Virat Kohli: Rohit Sharma could be our X-factor in World Cup

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

Kolkata, Nov 12 (IANS) In a bid to pep-up talented willower Rohit Sharma, Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday said the Mumbaikar could turn out to be the team's X-factor in next year's World Cup, provided he is in form.

Sharma has returned to the Indian squad ahead of the third One-Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka, having recuperated from a finger injury that forced him to pull out midway in the England tour in August.

Praising Sharma, Kohli said the 27-year-old right-hander brings a lot of positivity to the side.

"One good thing about Rohit is he doesn't change his game according to his success and failure and that's a positive. In fact, even after such an unfortunate injury in England, he returns and scores a century against Sri Lanka in the warm-up game and that shows his skills," Kohli said here.

"He brings a lot of positivity to the team. He is always up for discussions both on and off the field. In the past, I have spoken to him about different things that can be done and he brings a lot of value to the team."

Indicating that Sharma would open the innings, Kohli said "most probably" he would bat "at where he did in the past".

"We are looking to give him as many overs as we can. If he gets going, he can be the X-factor."

Sharma, who made his ODI debut in 2007, has been known for his inconsistency, often losing his place in the side. Kohli said another comeback man Robin Uthappa will don the wicketkeeping gloves.

"He has been brought in as the wicketkeeper-batsman. He kept at the Indian Premier League (IPL) also and did very well. He also batted tremendously well in the IPL. There were very few slogs, and lot of cricketing shots. It's important to give an opportunity to someone like him."

The skipper also praised in-form pacer Umesh Yadav, who has picked up eight wickets in the series. Kohli said that with more consistency, the Vidarbha bowler could be "among the best in the world".

"He has a rhythmic smooth action and has become more smart and his consistency has improved with the new ball," the right-handed batsman said.

He said the Indian team was looking for an all-out pace attack in the future, with two quicks bowling in tandem at 150 kilometres per hour.

"It will also be a change of character as we haven't really had something like this in the past where we have had two pacers bowling in tandem at 150kms per hour," he said.