Kapil Dev: Kohli and Sharma Irreplaceable, Like Tendulkar and Dhoni

Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev has hailed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as "irreplaceable" in the Indian team across all formats, comparing them to legendary players Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni.

Kohli and Sharma recently announced their retirements from Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket, marking the end of an era for Indian cricket. Kohli, who made his T20I debut in 2010, has been a prolific run-scorer in the format, amassing 4188 runs in 125 matches. Sharma, who made his T20I debut in 2007, has been even more successful, becoming the format's highest scorer with 4231 runs in 159 matches.

Dev, who led India to victory in the 1983 Cricket World Cup, believes that Kohli and Sharma have made an immense contribution to Indian cricket. "No one can take Virat and Rohit's place in the Indian team in any format," he said. "They have been a huge servant of Indian cricket and it was a happy farewell for them."

Dev praised Kohli's relentless dedication and passion for the game, which has made him one of the most successful batsmen in the world. He also acknowledged Sharma's leadership qualities, which have helped India win several major tournaments, including the 2022 T20 World Cup.

"The stature that Virat has made of himself in all formats, he will surely be missed in T20Is," Dev said. "Both are as same as Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni. They are irreplaceable."

Kohli and Sharma's retirements from T20I cricket will leave a void in the Indian team, but Dev is confident that the team will continue to be successful in the future. "We have a lot of young talent coming through," he said. "I am sure that they will step up and fill the void left by Virat and Rohit."

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