The first batch of the India Cricket Team departed for the T20 World Cup 2024 on Saturday (25th May). They will be travelling to New York via Dubai as they departed from the Mumbai airport after their teams were eliminated from IPL 2024.
The likes of skipper Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant and the support staff were the among the ones who left for New York.
What caught the attention of many was that Virat Kohli wasn’t spotted with the team. It raised quite a few eyebrows as to why the batter didn’t travel with the team for the T20 World Cup 2024. But now the reason behind that has been revealed.
As per the report in Indian Express, it is learned that Virat Kohli has asked for a short break after the IPL 2024. Therefore BCCI didn’t process his paperwork as the batter will be joining be team a bit late and might even miss the warmup game against Bangladesh on 1st June.
Virat Kohli along with Sanju Samson and Hardik Pandya are expected to to fly out on 30th May. A BCCI source confirmed the development and while speaking to Indian Express, he stated:
“Kohli had informed us way beforehand that he will be joining the team late and that is why the BCCI has kept his visa appointment for a later date. He is expected to fly out to New York in the early morning of May 30th. The BCCI has agreed to his request.”
India will be opening their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2024 on June 5 against Ireland. After that, they will be taking on Pakistan on 9th June.
India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024
Here’s India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024
India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj
Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan