After India’s loss in the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final, Virat Kohli has notably been missing from T20I matches. As India prepares for the T20 World Cup 2024 and completes four T20Is against Australia, the absence of Kohli is creating worries for his fans.
As India prepares for the T20 World Cup 2024, the absence of key players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the inaugural T20Is against Australia has raised eyebrows. With only one T20I remaining against Australia and three more against Afghanistan, the lingering issue is whether this marks the conclusion of Kohli’s T20I odyssey.
Surprisingly, both Kohli and Rohit have yet to make a return to the T20 team. Suryakumar Yadav is leading the T20 team in their absence, while KL Rahul is at the helm in the ODI series. The forthcoming series against Afghanistan and the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) is the last opportunity for Kohli to build a strong argument for a position in the T20 World Cup squad.
Reports claim that Kohli’s status in the T20I team is not secured, largely due to the emergence of Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the playing XI. Despite the difficult competition, there’s a compelling argument favoring Kohli’s participation.
Virat Kohli: The One Man-army In The T20I World Cups For India
Virat Kohli has truly been a star player in the limited-overs cricket field, notably in T20 World Cups. His impressive displays in the 2014 and 2016 editions, where he claimed the Player of the Tournament title, emphasize his prowess in T20 cricket. Even in the recent T20 World Cup 2022, Kohli made a remarkable recovery after a stretch of relative off-form. His aggregate of 1141 runs in 27 T20 World Cup matches, with an average of 73.4 in 45 innings, is nothing short of spectacular.
Kohli’s strike rate of 135.9 adds another feather to his crown. While there have been recent worries about his strike rate, his total T20I average of 73.4 in 45 innings speaks eloquently about his remarkable batting skills.
Despite the continuous controversy regarding his strike rate, one cannot dismiss Kohli’s abundance of experience and team spirit. If given the opportunity to open in T20Is, he has the capacity to anchor the innings and steer India through tricky situations. In periods of difficulty, Kohli has consistently stood up to the plate, making him an important addition to the club.
Will Virat Kohli be able to secure his spot in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024?
As we gear up for the T20 World Cup in 2024, the question arises – should Virat Kohli secure a spot in the squad? The answer, given his impressive track record and unwavering resilience, is a definite yes. Kohli is far from being finished, and a standout performance in the upcoming IPL could set the stage perfectly for the T20 World Cup next year.
Despite uncertainties surrounding Virat Kohli’s future in T20Is, it’s crucial not to overlook his significant contributions to India’s past T20 World Cup campaigns. The selectors need to carefully consider his outstanding track record and wealth of experience, weighing them against any concerns they might have, all the while acknowledging Kohli’s knack for turning the game around when the odds are stacked against him.
Also Read: Sourav Ganguly Backs Both Virat And Rohit To Play The T20 World Cup 2024