Watch: Former India captain makes massive statement on Rohit-Kohli’s absence ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

Indian cricket is going through a transition in the shortest format. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli no longer part of India’s T20 plans, the team management is now focusing on younger players and a more attacking style of cricket. While this shows a long-term plan for the future, it has also raised concerns about the loss of experience in pressure situations.

With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup coming closer, one big question is being discussed everywhere — will India miss Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on the biggest stage? This discussion became stronger after former India batter Ajinkya Rahane spoke about the issue in Cricbuzz’s popular True or False segment.

In the Cricbuzz segment, Rahane said that players like Rohit and Kohli add great value to any team. He explained that their experience of playing in high-pressure ICC tournaments, understanding match situations, and handling expectations is not easy to replace. Rahane also pointed out that senior players often make the difference in close matches, especially in knockout games.

Watch the video here:

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Rahane Dismisses Pakistan Boycott Talk

Meanwhile, the Mumbai batter, who has played a lot of cricket against Pakistan, said that Pakistan cannot boycott the upcoming T20 World Cup. He claimed that all the noise around a possible boycott is only for show and meant for optics. Rahane also said that they do not have the courage to stay away from such a big tournament.

Rahane’s comments have come at a time when several rumours are going around. Some reports say that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) might boycott the match against India, which is scheduled to be played on February 15. Other reports claim that the Pakistan team may wear black armbands as a form of protest.

Speaking on Cricbuzz, Rahane made his view clear and said, “I don’t think they will do it. They don’t have the guts.”

Rahane Backs Abhishek Sharma’s High-Risk Approach

In the same interview, Ajinkya Rahane spoke about India’s young opener Abhishek Sharma and his impact in T20 cricket. Abhishek has been impressive at the top of the order and has given India fast starts in the shortest format.

Reflecting on his approach, Rahane said that the Indian team needs to plan smartly around Abhishek’s aggressive style of play. He explained that Abhishek plays a high-risk game, which can sometimes lead to early dismissals, but also has the potential to win matches on his own.

“With Abhishek Sharma, it’s going to happen. He plays that high-risk game. When it works, he can be a match-winner. There will be times when he may get out for zero, maybe even on the first ball, and that can happen in a World Cup,” Rahane told Cricbuzz after the fourth T20I.