In the modern day of cricket , where 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 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 opted out of marquee 5 Test Match series against England citing personal reasons
With an exciting 5 match series that began on 25th January 2024 between India and England at Hyderabad, it was clear that Team India under the management lead by coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma would miss the services of star ace Indian batter Virat Kohli for the first two tests against the visitor. Virat Kohli pulled out of India’s first two Tests against England for personal reasons.
Virat Kohli had spoken to captain Rohit Sharma, the team management and the selectors and has emphasized that while representing the country has always been his top priority, certain personal situations demand his presence and undivided attention as said by BCCI . Prior to first test on 25th January 2024 , Virat Kohli reached Hyderabad, the venue of the first of five Tests, on Sunday, but did not attend India’s optional training session on Monday leading to the news that the star batter will miss the bus for the first 2 tests versus England at home.
India dismissed England for 292 runs in their second innings on day four to register a series-levelling 106-run win in the second Test. Resuming at 194 for six, England lost the remaining four wickets in the post-lunch session to be bowled out in 69.2 overs as India levelled the five-match series 1-1. India had scored 396 and 255 in their two innings, while England were dismissed for 253 in their first essay. India had lost the opening Test by 28 runs in Hyderabad.
Virat Kohli’s epic performances in T20I world cups for India.
Virat Kohli has played just two T20I games since the 2022 T20 World Cup. Indian cricket fans have been rocked by a recent report claiming that Virat Kohli might not be picked in the national squad for the impending 2024 T20 World Cup. Not only fans, but even veteran cricketers and experts have been left in disbelief over the report, given that Kohli had ended up as the leading run-getter for India in the last edition of the tournament, scoring 296 runs in six matches, which included that iconic knock against Pakistan in Melbourne.
Virat Kohli had taken a break from T20I cricket following the end of the 2022 edition of the World Cup in a bid to focus on the 2023 ODI tournament. He later skipped the Australia T20I series at home and the tour of South Africa as well post the 50-over contest, which sparked discussions over his future in the format before making a return in the series against Afghanistan in January.
Former South Africa cricketer Dale Steyn too has joined the bandwagon to back the former India captain to make the World Cup squad, but cautioned him against the emergence of several contenders during his period of absence.
Sensational Virat Kohli is a vital cog for RCB in IPL 2024 and needs to perform exclaims South African speedster Dale Steyn
Former South African legendary pacer Dale Steyn believes that it is absolutely vital for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star batter Virat Kohli to have a stellar IPL 2024 with the bat. Virat Kohli has played just two T20I games after the previously held World Cup in 2022 for the format and since then The Men in Blue until now had found several exciting batters to choose for the showpiece megaevent in June this year.
Speaking to the reporters in the press conference arranged by Star Sports , here’s what Dale Steyn had to say about Virat Kohli :
“It’s very important for him to score runs because that will put him in a good frame going into the (T20) World Cup. There are many guys who have leapfrogged him recently because he has taken a bit of a break and there are many contenders to take to that World Cup.”
Kohli had withdrawn from the Test series between India and England, citing personal reasons. His last appearance in competitive cricket was in the third T20I of India’s series against Afghanistan in Bengaluru in January.
Team India will require Virat Kohli’s experience in T20I World Cup.
While Dale Steyn opined that Virat Kohli needs the prolific IPL 2024 under his belt with the bat, he also undermined the fact that the experience of the big matches and the big stage performances that the star batter has under his belt over the years is invaluable and India will certainly need it if they have to win the elusive ICC title come June 2024 . On this Steyn added :
“I look at runs the same way you look at someone’s bank balance. Virat has got stacks and stacks of runs that he has stored up over many years. They are going to look at guys who have been there and done that and that’s something Virat has done.”
The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are set to start the IPL 2024 campaign with a tough game against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) away at the Chepauk on March 22.