T20 WC 2024 is just a couple of months away, and speculations on whether India’s batting mainstay Virat Kohli should feature in that mega event are gaining steam. While some experts say his comparatively lower strike rate as per modern T20 standards is a potent reason for his exclusion from the event, some are advocating for the talismanic batter. The debate on – Will Virat Kohli play T20 WC 2024? – is never-ending. What has added fire to the discussion is his absence from the recently concluded home Test Series against England, which India won 4-1. Although he remained absent because of his newborn baby, ex-cricketers and fans were not so happy, with some of them saying that Virat preferred family over the country. While the debate will continue, we will highlight the top 5 reasons that command Virat Kohli a place in India’s squad for T20 WC 2024.
Reasons That Call for Virat Kohli’s Inclusion in India’s T20 WC 2024 Squad
There shouldn’t be any debate though on Virat Kohli’s position in the upcoming T20 WC in WI and USA. He must walk into the side on the sheer weight of his awesome performance over the years across formats, including T20s. Let’s check out his performance and the value he adds to the team in greater detail.
Virat Kohli’s Impressive T20 Record Makes Him an Automatic Choice for T20 WC 2024
Virat Kohli is arguably the greatest batter in today’s generation and his T20 records are a sheer delight for his team and the fans. His performance often results in the team winning more than losing. Virat Kohli runs in T20 format stand at over 12,000 with 87 half-centuries and 8 centuries (combining international and IPL games). While his average in international T20 cricket hovers above 50, the same though dips in IPL to 37. But still very effective given how fluctuating the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the IPL franchise he plays for, has been over the years.
Perhaps the Best T20 WC Record the Man Boasts of
King Kohli excels when the big moment arrives. Come the world cup and the man will be back in business as usual. Scoring runs at will and pushing the team over the line more often than not. He boasts of 1,141 runs, the highest by any batter in T20 world cups staged so far. Since the 2014 T20 WC, he has been an absolute revelation, scoring runs match after match, with the sole exception of T20 WC 2021 where the entire team failed including him. Who could forget the two back-to-back towering sixes he hit off the bowling of Haris Rauf in the last T20 WC encounter against Pakistan at a massive and jam-packed Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the venue that saw a nail-biting encounter between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, which eventually went in favour of the former.
Virat Kohli T20 World Cup 2016 innings against Australia (A Do or Die Game) at Mohali is a replica of what he did against Pakistan in the 2022 edition. India were chasing a relatively modest 160 but were 3 down for 49, with the asking rate climbing up all the time. He stitched a useful 45-run partnership with Yuvraj Singh. But the scoring rate was not that impressive. India required 66 of the last six overs, chasable but a monumental challenge as the Aussies held a firm grip on the game. It was then that Virat put his A-game on display by smacking Aussie bowlers to all corners of the park to encore an unbelievable 82 off 51 balls. India romped into the semi-finals by virtue of that knock.
Fielding is Another Great Asset Virat Kohli Possesses
He is an absolute livewire on the field, stopping the batter from taking sharp singles, putting in the dive to prevent the ball from touching the fence, taking unbelievable catches and effecting runouts. Remember every run saved is gold in T20 cricket. Something that is synonymous with Virat.
High Fitness Levels Will Only Help the Team’s Cause in the T20 WC 2024
T20s require high fitness levels. The format drains you out in no time given its fast-paced nature where you can’t live in a comfort zone for even a second as the game can change in no time, leaving you surprised. The gap between T20 World Cup fixtures does not remain much, so the recovery time between matches has to be much shorter. This is where Virat’s fitness supersedes everyone.
He Adds Enormous Value with His Rich Vein of Cricketing Experience
He may no longer be the skipper of the national team, but he is often consulted for decisions given his rich vein of experience. That subtle decision-making support always comes to help the side navigate the challenge successfully.
Final Thoughts
Given the impressive T20 record Virat possesses, this question – Is Virat Kohli playing T20 World Cup – does not seem valid. This is precisely the reason both Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid are advocating for his inclusion in the team. Hope the common sense prevails as selectors pick him for the T20 WC 2024.
Tune in to zarooribaathai.in for insightful updates on sports, finance, beauty, health and more.
