With the ICC ODI World Cup in just over 20 months, Ravichandran Ashwin gave Indian mainstays Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli his vote of confidence.
Regarding Rohit and Virat’s performance, Ashwin stated that both players are still motivated by the desire to win a 50-over World Cup.
“For both Rohit and Virat, the fire is there to win that 50-over World Cup and they are putting in all their efforts. It is important that we enjoy every single match that they are giving to us,” he said.
“In many ways, they have redefined the years. It has not been an easy year in terms of Test cricket as both of them have retired and there was a lot of talk about their chances, but they have come back and played really well in the ODI series,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Kohli is in excellent form, which is encouraging for Indian cricket, Ashwin continued.
“Virat is looking in exceptional form and that is great for Indian cricket,” he said.
In the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, both Rohit and Kohli have displayed outstanding form. Rohit scored a dominant 155 for Mumbai, while Kohli has scored 131 and 77.
The two Indian stalwarts lit up a thrilling ODI series against South Africa. Virat Kohli was in imposing form, hitting consecutive hundreds at Ranchi and Raipur before concluding with a fluid, stroke-filled fifty in Visakhapatnam. Rohit Sharma set the tone with two dominant half-centuries in the first and last games.
With two hundreds and a fifty to his credit, Kohli concluded the series as its top run scorer, scoring 302 runs at an incredible average of 151 and a strike rate above 117. With two half-centuries and 148 runs from three innings at an average of 48.66 and a strike rate of 110, Rohit was not far behind.
Additionally, the two prolific players finished the year as India’s top two ODI run scorers. With a maximum score of 135 and a strike rate above 96, Kohli amassed 651 runs from 13 games at a remarkable average of 65.10, hitting three hundreds and four fifties. In close pursuit, Rohit amassed 650 runs from 14 innings at an even 50, striking at over 100 and peaking with an undefeated 121. He also scored two hundreds and four fifties.
