Kolkata : Former Indian pacer Sreeshant has backed Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma in the upcoming ICC T20 WC in the press conference of the Legends Cricket League 2022. The pacer is also of India’s winning chances of the tournament.
Recently in Asia Cup, Virat Kohli who was suffering from a patchy form came back strongly, even scoring his 71st international century, and showed his old self thus becoming the tournament’s second highest scorer. Rohit Shamra though inconsistent, was very effective in powerplays, giving India quick starts.
“The way he’s been performing, I think Virat is back and that is great. In Australian conditions, on hard, bouncy wickets, Virat and Rohit will surely do well,” Sreesanth told reporters in the build-up to the second edition of Legends League Cricket.
Sreeshant revealed that though India will miss the services of star all rounder Ravindra Jadeja who’s ruled out due to injury, he also praised & is confident of his like to like replacement Axar Patel who has been doing well consistently with Bat & Ball.
“Yes we will miss him, but there is Axar Patel. One guy goes and another guy walks in, and that’s the speciality of leagues like the IPL. We have so many opportunities for youngsters, even (Ravi)Bishnoi for that matter. And whenever Axar has gotten an opportunity, he has done extremely well for the country. So as a countryman and a colleague, I would love to see anybody who replaces anybody do well for the country and win the World Cup,” he added.
Sreeshant found similarities between the ICC WT20 2007 & the present campaign, & he’s confident that just like India got motivation after India’s World Cup exit just before winning the inaugural WT20, the same might happen to the team in this tournament after getting motivation from Asia Cup exit.
“We have a great team, and I am very confident (of our chances) despite this Asia Cup defeat. Something like this happened in 2007 as well. Just before the 2007 T20 World Cup, we lost the 50-over World Cup in the West Indies. So that motivation when you lose something, if we focus really hard, we can win this. There is no other competition. Yes I love all the other countries, but I love India better.
“There’s nothing really to speak about selection. The best team always gets selected. Even during our time in 2007, many guys didn’t play and yet we went and won. So it doesn’t matter who is playing and who is not, we only care about India winning,” said the pacer.
Before starting the tournament, India will play home series against Australia & South Africa, thus getting fully prepared.
