2024 T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli’s future with Team India in the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup has received a major boost after the batter once again proved his worth in gold during the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Kohli, reportedly, is almost a certainty in the Indian squad for the World Cup, however, his RCB teammate Glenn Maxwell says, “India don’t pick him (for T20 World Cup).”
Notably, Virat Kohli’s stocks in the T20s took an upward movement following his brilliant performances in the ongoing IPL 2024. The RCB batter has already piled up 319 runs in 6 innings so far, which includes a fine ton as well.
Though, his form has never been an issue, what has come up as a glaring problem according to the experts is his strike rate. Kohli’s unbeaten century knock against Rajasthan Royals (RR) was criticised by many for a low strike rate. He scored 113* runs in 72 deliveries at a strike rate of 156.94.
Lauding the heroics of Virat Kohli, his RCB teammate Glenn Maxwell believes the Indian batter is one of the most clutch players he has ever played against.
“Virat Kohli is the most clutch player I have ever played against. The innings he played against us in Mohali during the 2016 T20 World Cup is still the best innings I have ever seen been played against me. His awareness of what he needs to do to win the game is just phenomenal.” Maxwell said while talking to ESPN.
Hope India doesn’t pick Virat Kohli in T20 World Cup: Maxwell
However, the Aussie jokingly added, “I hope India doesn’t pick him (for the T20 World Cup) because it will be great to not come up against him.”
Maxwell, though, conceded that the pressure on Virat Kohli is justifiable and there’s nothing surprising about it. He added that from a country of 1.5 billion people, the competition is huge and to get selected in the final 15 is phenomenal.
“It’s not surprising because there are 1.5 billion (people in India) and I reckon half of them are unbelievable cricketers in this country (laughs). It’s a hard team to get into. You look at India’s top T20 players who are all playing in this tournament (IPL 2024). They are phenomenal players and there should be heat on every player,” Maxwell added.
India’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad is anticipated to be announced in the first week of May. The Indian think tank is having their eyes glued to the ongoing IPL 2024, which has been looked at as the audition for the players to get named in India’s T20 World Cup squad.