While Team India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 appears to be sorted and predictable, there are still some questions that need to be answered. One such question is the place of batting maestro Virat Kohli, who has been in such stellar form in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Virat Kohli’s sublime touch this season has presented a selection conundrum for the Indian think tank ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. So far in 15 appearances in the TATA IPL 2024, Kohli has racked up 738 runs at an impressive average of 67.09.
The biggest challenge for the Indian captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid would be the choice between Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal for the opening position alongside the skipper.
Given the current circumstances and the form of Virat Kohli, it’s certainly not easy to put him out of the opening position. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal is also a tempting option to look at. The left-handed batter up in order to provide much-needed balance to the side.
Whatever the decision Indian management pursues, it is certainly going to be a gutsy one. Keeping either of the batters out of the opening position is not an easy choice.
Meanwhile, when asked the same question, Ricky Ponting, the former Australian captain, asserted that the Indian management would back Virat Kohli up in the opening slot.
“I’m pretty sure that they’ll go with Kohli and Rohit Sharma (as openers),” told Ponting to the ICC.
“They (selectors) have still got a decision to make because (Yashasvi) Jaiswal is in that squad and one thing they haven’t got a lot in their team is left-hand batters,” he said.
“So they’ve got a decision to make with Jaiswal, but I’m pretty sure that they’ll go with Kohli and Rohit Sharma (as openers).”
The renowned commentator further took a dig at the Indian fans for constantly trolling Virat Kohli for his poor strike rate. He said,”It’s funny with Virat. I think people in India just always try to find a reason not to pick him or a reason why he’s maybe not as good as some of these other guys in the T20 game.”
He further explained that putting the right set of players around Virat Kohli would do wonders for the Indian team during the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.
“He can play his role at the top. And if you’ve got the right guys around him scoring (like) Suryakumar (Yadav)…Rohit Sharma’s going to have a high strike rate. These other guys can go in there and play their way.”
He also mentioned that Virat Kohli is probably the guy who steps up in the big games. He cited how he swung the contest against Pakistan in India’s favour with his batting brilliance during the last T20 World Cup.
Team India’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign will begin on June 5 against Ireland in New York. The first batch of T20 World Cup-bound players are expected to head to the USA on May 25. The remaining players will join the Indian squad as soon as they get free from their IPL duties.