Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should be given the ownership to decide their future: Chris Gayle

After a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Australia in the ODI World Cup 2023 final in Ahmedabad, there have been a lot of discussion regarding the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Notably, since the T20 World Cup 2022, the duo hasn’t played any T20Is but are once again back into the conservation as the next World Cup of the shortest format is just under eight months away.

In the absence of Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya was handed the responsibility to lead the team and the all-rounder has done a good job since then. With that, questions have been asked whether Rohit is willing to return as many of the reports claim that the opener has conveyed to the selectors that he is fine if the team management decides to go with fresh faces in the next T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA.

Meanwhile, Chris Gayle has opined that Rohit and Virat should be given the freedom to decide their future in the shortest format and no one should interfere in between. He mentioned that the players have done an incredible service for the national team and now, it’s the BCCI and its selectors who need to respect them and let them make a call.

“Those guys (Rohit and Virat) should make the call. They should give the opportunity to those guys to make the call and if those guys want to do, I am sure they will. Why not? They have done incredible service and they deserve to make a call of their own and I am sure they will be given that respect for what they have for the country. It’s phenomenal and fantastic. So, Virat and Rohit should have the say, I wanna do it or I don’t wanna do it. Give them the ownership,” Gayle said in a viral video on X. 

A lot is expected to come to light when India announce their squad for the upcoming tour to South Africa. The Men in Blue will play a three-match T20I series along with a three-match ODI and a two-match Test series.