No Virat Kohli in T20 World Cup 2024, BCCI to discuss his future in Team India’s T20I Squad: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to shift its gears as Team India prepares a full-proof blueprint for the next big ICC event in 2024 – the T20 World Cup. The preparations for the showpiece event are underway with just six months left to the event in West Indies and USA.
The BCCI is under tremendous pressure to nitpick the right players to do the job for the Indian team and end a decade-long trophy drought. Along the same lines, the officials of the BCCI are planning to have a meeting with veteran Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, who seems to have lost the selector’s trust.
As per the reports, the BCCI is not looking at Virat Kohli’s selection for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The reports came as Team India prepares for the all-format tour of South Africa, starting December 10.
Notably, the highest run scorer of the recently concluded ODI World Cup 2023, is not in the scheme of things for the richest cricket board for the brand of cricket he plays in the shortest format. As per the sources, the BCCI wants attacking players in the lineup, who can set the record straight from the word go, and Virat Kohli doesn’t fit in that parameter.
Although Virat Kohli’s prowesses are second to none and his records have roared for the batter for almost a decade now, his strike rate has become an issue in the shortest format of the game.
Ishan Kishan preferred over Virat Kohli at No 3 for T20 World Cup 2024
The report added that the BCCI would prefer someone like Ishan Kishan, who can play explosively, at the number three in place of Virat Kohli. However, the cricket board is looking to schedule a meeting with Kohli, who is currently in London, to talk about his future in the T20Is.
It’s noteworthy that both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have not featured in the T20Is since the last T20 World Cup. The two focused on the ODIs, post India’s defeat in the T20 World Cup 2022, and skipped all the 20-over matches held in over a year.
Moreover, the team does not have a lot of room to test every single player now. Team India is scheduled to play six T20Is (3 against South Africa and 3 against Afghanistan) before the T20 World Cup 2024, besides the IPL.
Virat is also rested for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa, which begins on December 10 in Durban. The T20Is will mark the absence of Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, who are likely to play the T20 World Cup 2024.
Team India’s batting combination in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 appears packed. Captain Rohit Sharma will be paired alongside either Shubman Gill or Yashasvi Jaiswal in the opening slot. The third position will be held by Ishan Kishan, as per the reports, followed by the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja.
ALSO READ: Faf du Plessis to make his international comeback through T20 World Cup 2024
For more head to the official website: BCCI