‘He can play another World Cup if..’: Muttiah Muralitharan gives a big statement about Rohit Sharma

In the wake of India’s somewhat disheartening conclusion to their ODI World Cup 2023 journey, Rohit Sharma‘s standout leadership has emerged as a beacon of commendation. Despite the team’s disappointment, the 36-year-old’s exceptional captaincy has become a focal point of admiration among fans and cricket pundits worldwide.

The right-handed batting maestro led his side from the front with a stellar display of prowess with the willow and showcased strategic acumen in orchestrating plans to dismantle opponents. Rohit’s multifaceted contributions, both as a batter and a captain, have earned him widespread acclaim.

Amid the prevailing discussions, cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan has offered his perspective on Rohit’s potential to play another World Cup, further adding to the chorus of accolades surrounding the Indian captain’s performance on the global stage.

Muralitharan’s opinion on Rohit’s presence in another ODI World Cup

Muralitharan lauded Rohit’s ODI World Cup performance, emphasizing his consistent starts and impressive strike rates throughout the tournament. Highlighting the southpaw’s reliability, the Kandy-born cricketer expressed confidence in Rohit’s ability to continue performing at a high level. The spin maestro believes that, despite being 36 years old, Rohit can extend his international career and potentially play in another World Cup if he prioritizes fitness, akin to Virat Kohli.

“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,” Muralitharan was quoted as saying to JioCinema.

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Muralitharan on Rohit’s T20I future

Muralitharan further questioned the notion of making harsh decisions about bringing in youngsters, asserting that experienced players like Rohit should continue playing as long as they are fit and performing well. He highlighted the Nagpur-born cricketer’s commendable strike rate of 130 in ODIs, suggesting that it’s suitable for T20 cricket as well.

“Why are people taking such harsh calls that it is the right time to go and bring youngsters. Until they are fit and performing, let them play. 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,” the 51-year-old added.

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