Sandeep Patil questions the T20I retirements of Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma

Former India chief selector Sandeep Patil has admitted that he finds it difficult to understand Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s decision to step away from T20Is while continuing to feature in the Indian Premier League. Patil expressed surprise at the move, especially given the duo’s sustained impact in the shortest format at the franchise level. Rohit and Kohli brought the curtain down on their T20I careers after guiding India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, ending a long wait for an ICC trophy in the format. Earlier this year, both veterans also announced their retirement from Test cricket within the same month, marking the end of an era in India’s red-ball setup.

Sandeep Patil opens up on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's T20I retirements

Despite stepping aside from two international formats, they have continued to deliver strong performances in the IPL and remain active contributors in One Day Internationals. As a result, India are competing in the ongoing T20 World Cup without the presence of either Rohit or Kohli. It marks the first time in nearly two decades - 19 years - that India are participating in a major ICC tournament without the involvement of the two former captains, signaling a significant transition phase for the national team.

"It puzzles me. Two greats, two legends, retire from the T20 format, but they are available to play the Indian Premier League (IPL). I don’t understand… they could have played T20 cricket for India and figured in the IPL. That would be something we all would’ve accepted," stated former Indian cricketer Sandeep Patil. 

Sandeep Patil has also thrown his weight behind the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee for their decision to leave Shubman Gill out of India’s squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. While acknowledging Gill’s immense talent and potential, Patil maintained that squad selection for a global tournament is often about balance and team combination rather than individual reputation. The 1983 World Cup winner admitted that he feels for Gill, who has consistently showcased his class across formats and remains one of India’s brightest young prospects. However, Patil pointed out that the selectors were faced with a difficult task, given the depth and form of players competing for spots in the T20 setup.

According to him, every position in the squad appears to be backed by either recent performances or specific tactical requirements suited to the conditions. Patil emphasized that in high-stakes tournaments like the T20 World Cup, tough calls are inevitable. He suggested that while Gill’s exclusion may raise eyebrows, it does not reflect a lack of faith in his abilities. Instead, it underlines the intense competition within Indian cricket, where even established names can miss out when team balance becomes the overriding priority.

"I feel sad for Gill, but he just doesn’t find a place in this team. Who are you going to drop? While discussing selection, we only talk about players, but we should also look at combinations," said Patil (via the aforementioned source).

India kicked off their 2026 T20 World Cup journey in commanding fashion, securing a 29-run victory over a determined USA side at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Despite the spirited resistance from the American team, India managed to hold their nerve and deliver a well-rounded performance to begin their campaign on a positive note. The win not only provided early momentum but also reinforced their status as one of the tournament favourites.

Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the Men in Blue now shift their focus to their next Group A fixture i.e. India vs Namibia. India will be back in action on Thursday, February 12, when they take on Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The upcoming clash presents another opportunity for the team to strengthen their position in the standings and fine-tune their combinations as the competition intensifies in the early stages of the global event.