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Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has made some intriguing forecasts regarding the future of Indian cricket’s batting stars, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. According to Harbhajan, Kohli’s extraordinary physical fitness could allow him to remain a dominant force on the international stage for up to five more years. On the other hand, he predicts that Rohit Sharma will maintain his impressive form and contribute to the national team for at least another two years.
Harbhajan Singh, who has amassed over 700 international wickets in his career, expressed confidence that Kohli’s unparalleled fitness levels could enable him to extend his playing career beyond that of past legends. Kohli’s dedication to rigorous training and maintaining peak physical condition has established him as one of the fittest cricketers globally.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have a lot of cricket left in them: Harbhajan Singh
The legendary spinner Harbhajan Singh believes that Virat Kohli’s exceptional fitness could enable him to extend his cricketing career for another five years, continuing to make a significant impact on the international stage. Harbhajan also highlighted that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have plenty of cricket left in them and could sustain their careers as long as they keep up their form and fitness.
He underscored the importance of seasoned players like Rohit and Kohli in providing stability and mentorship to the younger members of the Indian cricket team. Nonetheless, Harbhajan stressed that team selection should always prioritize performance.
He emphasized that if any player, including veterans like Kohli and Rohit Sharma, fails to deliver, they should be replaced by emerging talent. According to Harbhajan, selectors should focus on both fitness and performance when determining the team roster.
Harbhajan Singh was quoted as saying by the PTI: “Rohit can easily play for two more years. You never know with Virat Kohli’s fitness; you can see him competing for five years. He is probably the fittest guy in the team. You ask any 19-year-old competing with Virat (on fitness). Virat will beat him. He is that fit. I believe Virat and Rohit have a lot of cricket left in them and it is entirely up to them. If they are fit enough, they are performing, and the team is winning, they should continue to play. As simple as that.”
If someone is not performing well, they should be dropped: Harbhajan Singh
The renowned spinner Harbhajan Singh has stated that the Indian cricket team will benefit significantly from having both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play more Test cricket than currently anticipated. He emphasized the importance of having experienced players across all formats to help develop the emerging talent. Despite this, Harbhajan firmly maintains that if any player, including Kohli or Rohit, fails to perform, they should be replaced to ensure the team’s success.
He further explained, “Selectors need to see that if someone is not performing well, they should be dropped. Whether they are senior players or juniors. But as long as everyone is fit, they should be able to get selected in the team. And if they are not contributing in any manner, whether it’s fitness or number of runs, then the time has come. They should be making way for the youngsters.”
Ultimately, Harbhajan emphasized that younger players often exhibit greater hunger and drive compared to their senior counterparts. He noted that after playing for 15 years, a player’s enthusiasm may wane somewhat. Therefore, he believes it’s beneficial to provide opportunities to emerging talent, especially when veteran players are not performing at their best.