I think Rohit Sharma will definitely play another World Cup: Muttiah Muralidaran

Muttiah Muralidaran, the Sri Lankan spin legend who holds the record for 800 wickets in Test cricket, has expressed his support for Rohit Sharma's potential inclusion in the T20 World Cup 2024.

Muralidaran highlighted Sharma's exceptional performance in the ODI World Cup as evidence for his return to the T20 format. He emphasized the importance of fitness and overall team contribution, qualities that Sharma consistently demonstrated in the ODI World Cup.

"You look at his ODI World Cup performance. The starts he gave, the kind of strike rates he batted at. He never failed in the tournament. And he's only 36, that's young. He can play another World Cup if he pushes his fitness like Virat," Muralidaran said in an interview promoting his biopic '800' on Jio Cinema.

The spin legend dismissed the emphasis on high strike rates in T20 matches and encouraged Sharma to focus on maintaining his fitness after 35. 

"Rohit batted with a strike rate of 130 in ODIs, which is not bad for T20. He's an experienced player. You just have to work harder on your fitness after 35. If the desire is there, he'll play. I think he'll definitely play another World Cup. It's on his mind."

With an exceptional record in T20 Internationals, Rohit Sharma is renowned for his explosive batting style and profound prowess in the format. Having amassed 3853 runs in 148 T20Is, including 29 fifties and four centuries, with a highest score of 118, Sharma's impressive records extend to the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he has scored 6211 runs across 243 matches, with a highest score of 109*. 

With such impressive records in both T20Is and IPL, Sharma's presence in the upcoming T20 World Cup could significantly benefit Team India's performance. Now, moving forward, it will be quite interesting to see if the Indian selectors and team management view Rohit as a potential captain and player in the team, or if they would prefer a youngster, looking towards the future.

Currently, the Indian team are engaged in a five-match T20I series against Australia, where players like Rohit and Virat Kohli have been rested. In the first match, India secured victory by two wickets, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.