Virat Kohli is considered to be the greatest player of the current era due to his pyrotechnics on and off the field, his availability for the upcoming mega event the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 has grown huge interests amongst cricket lovers and fans . Virat Kohli over the years have burdened Indian hopes on his shoulders through immaculate innings in the shortest format of the game will like to give his all in conquest of the elusive ICC title.
Though not playing T20I cricket over a year now the likes of Virat Kohli still remains a popular choice to play in shortest format. The other poster boy of Indian cricket who has carried India’s dream on his shoulder and an successful captain for his franchise in the Indian Premier league, current Indian captain Rohit Sharma is now brewing the headlines with a success on South Africa tour.
The swashbuckling opener Rohit Sharma has once again made himself available to captain India for the upcoming mega event the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 which could be his final journey in the conquest of the coveted ICC Title. With the next big thing the ICC World T20 Cup 2024 set to take place in June and the schedule being out for the same, IPL 2024 would be a event for practicing for the ultimate world title in June.
Virat Kohli record in World T20Is and IPL 2024
Virat Kohli is the highest run-getter in T20 World Cup history, having accumulated 1141 runs in 27 matches at 81.50, with 14 half-centuries. He overtook Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene in the 2022 edition. The 35-year-old also ended up as the highest run-getter in three T20 World Cup editions and has received two Player of the Tournament awards.
Virat Kohli made astonishing 741 runs an orange cap performance in IPL 2024 opening the batting for Royal Challengers Bengaluru(RCB) with a staggering strike rate with the bat of 154.69 opening the batting for RCB and was the architect of RCB’s royal comeback to the Playoffs. Adding to 5 half centuries and 1 century with 62 fours and 38 sixes enthralled the fans just before the marquee event.
Virat Kohli’s acrobatics in the field and and his supreme running between the wickets would be the key for India in the testing conditions in USA and WI and former Indian cricketer Kris Srikanth believes that Virat Kohli in his current fitness form aged 36 , could well play the upcoming T20I World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
Kris Srikanth backs star batter Virat Kohli to play home T20 World Cup in 2026
Virat Kohli will hope to finish his illustrious career with the elusive T20 World Cup title. Former Indian opener Kris Srikanth believes the ongoing T20 World Cup will not be Virat Kohli’s last and that the ace batter can also play the 2026 edition at home. The 35-year-old is yet to win a T20 World Cup title despite being the tournament’s all-time leading run-scorer with 1,141 runs at a stunning average of 81.50 in 27 games.
Kohli was also the Player of the Tournament in the 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups but Team India fell short of ultimate glory on both occasions. When talking about the 2024 T20 World Cup potentially being the last for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Srikanth said on his YouTube channel:
“Is this a last chance for them to win together as a team (with Rohit and Kohli), probably yes. Keep in mind, the 2026 T20 World Cup is in India. So everybody would like to play in India. As far as I am concerned, the kind of fitness Virat Kohli has, he can easily play until 2026. So 2026 could be Virat’s last. For Virat Kohli, this is not the last chance. But he will be very keen because he has not won a T20 World Cup yet.”
Despite being out of action in T20Is since the 2022 World Cup, Virat Kohli and Rohit were recalled for the Afghanistan series earlier this year. Team India’s 2024 T20 World Cup campaign will get underway against Ireland in New York on June 5.
Kris Srikanth feels Rohit Sharma can win the T20 World Cup
Kris Srikanth feels Rohit Sharma would be desperate to win the T20 World Cup title as captain after barely missing out in last year’s ODI World Cup.
Team India ran through the table, winning all nine league stage games and the semi-final before falling in the grand finale. Rohit was part of India’s title run under MS Dhoni in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007.
“Whereas Rohit Sharma has won it in 2007. He wanted the ODI World Cup very badly, but he missed it. He will now be looking at the T20 World Cup, thinking he should win it for India as a captain. As a captain, winning the World Cup is a big thing. That’s why MS Dhoni is being spoken about so much. He has won all the major trophies. Rohit Sharma will be keen on winning for the team and for the country more than himself, that’s what I am trying to say,” said Srikanth.
Rohit has captained India in three ICC events – the 2022 T20 World Cup, the World Test Championship (WTC), and the ODI World Cup last year. However, the side fell agonizingly short on all three occasions, losing in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup and the final of the other two events.