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 West Indies. Ahead of the most anticipated clash between India and Pakistan Indian skipper Rohit Sharma underlined the importance player of calibre like Virat Kohli and the effect his performance can bring to the Indian team in this marquee clash.
Rohit Sharma speaks on Virat Kohli ahead of 2024 T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan
Team India captain Rohit Sharma stated that the side doesn’t want to rely on only one individual while sharing this thoughts on Virat Kohli ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup match against Pakistan. Rohit Sharma admitted that Kohli was not at his best against Ireland but asserted that the former captain has the experience to deliver.
The Men in Blue take on arch-rivals Pakistan in their second T20 World Cup match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Sunday, June 9. The Men in Blue beat Ireland by eight wickets at the same venue in the opening match.
While Rohit (52 off 37) and Rishabh Pant (36* off 26) did well in a chase of 97 against Ireland, Kohli looked off color and was dismissed for 1 off five. At the pre-match press conference ahead of the mega clash against Pakistan, Rohit threw his weight behind Kohli:
“I don’t want to rely on one individual to win us the game. Everyone needs to chip in. He didn’t play the Bangladesh game. He didn’t have a great outing in the first game, but we all know he brings in a wealth of experience.”
To the surprise of many fans and experts, Pant came into bat at No. 3 in India’s World Cup opener against Ireland. The Men in Blue captain confirmed that the keeper-batter will continue to bat at the one-down position.
“Watched Pant play the first few matches in the IPL and made up my mind. It was about having the right batting position. His counter-attacking skill will be helpful, given we cannot play Yashaswi [Jaiswal],” Rohit elaborated.
“He has got an all-round game. Besides the openers, none of the other batting position is fixed, unless it is a Super Over. We want to be flexible,” the Indian skipper went on to add.
Playing his first international match since December 2022, Pant made a crucial contribution, hitting three fours and two sixes in his unbeaten knock.
Rohit Sharma on high-pressure game against Pakistan
India have a dominant record over their arch-rivals in World Cups. They have lost once to their neighbors in the ICC event (ODI and T20I World Cups combined). Pakistan, themselves, will be under the pump following their shock loss to co-hosts United States in their opening World Cup match.
Rohit, though, said that they would go into Sunday’s match with the same level of intensity as any other game. He also commented that Pakistan have the ability to recover strongly from setbacks.
“Nothing changes. We have played them seven months back in the Asia Cup and (ODI) World Cup.
“But T20 is unpredictable. That’s what T20 cricket is all about. Last World Cup, Pakistan lost to Zimbabwe but ended up playing the final. On your day, anyone can beat anyone,” Rohit said.
Batting first against US, Pakistan scored 159-7. They restricted the opposition to 159-3 but lost the Super Over. Their tournament is at stake if they lose to India but what one expects is to be the cracker of the contest between two arch rivals .