Virat Kohli might be dropped from Indian team for the upcoming T20 world Cup: Report

The squads for the Men’s T20 World Cup are in the process of being assembled, and teams will need to submit their provisional selections to the ICC by the first week of May. The performances of players in the upcoming Indian Premier League season are anticipated to play a significant role in shaping these selections.

While it was confirmed by BCCI secretary Jay Shah  that Rohit Sharma will captain India’s T20 World Cup squad in 2024,scheduled to take place in the USA and the West Indies from 2nd to 29th June. According to a report from The Telegraph, Kohli’s participation in the tournament is not guaranteed.Given the emergence of young talents and the evolving nature of the format, selectors have expressed some doubt about Kohli’s spot in the team. The news came as a surprise to Indian cricket enthusiasts who had high expectations from the star batsman and one of the most experienced players in the team.

SELECTORS ARE HAVING DOUBTS ON KOHLI’S SPOT IN THE TEAM

With just a few months remaining, Virat Kohli’s position in the Indian squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup is once again under scrutiny. Despite his strong performance in the 2022-T20 World Cup, the veteran batsman has yet to fully convince selectors of his adaptability to the modern demands of T20 cricket. 

With emerging talents vying for spots and the T20 format swiftly evolving, selectors have harboured doubts regarding Kohli’s inclusion.The recent report in The Telegraph suggests that these doubts have only intensified.The selectors believe that the slow pitches in the West Indies won’t align with Kohli’s batting style. While Rohit excelled as an aggressive opener in the ODI World Cup, indicating suitability for the same role in T20Is,Kohli maintained his traditional approach, serving as the batting unit’s anchor. While anchoring is vital in ODIs, is it equally necessary in T20Is? 

The chief selector Agarkar has already spoken to Kohli about the necessity for him to make adjustments to meet the team’s and format’s requirements.Things can still turn out favorable for the former Indian team skipper Kohli, if he performs outstandingly in the upcoming IPL season.The national selectors and team management are prepared to make tough decisions in preparation for the T20 World Cup, with chief selector Ajit Agarkar likely to have the final say, as top BCCI officials are hesitant to get involved.

If Virat Kohli is not selected for the T20 World Cup, what alternatives does India have?

 The selection committee has been evaluating alternatives for the upcoming tournament. There are numerous options available. Kohli usually bats at no.3 in T20Is. India has players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Ruturaj Gaikwad who can partner with Rohit Sharma as openers. The one who misses out could be tried at no.3. Additionally, there’s the choice of selecting either KL Rahul or Sanju Samson as the wicketkeeper and no.3 batsman. Before losing his central contract, Ishan Kishan was tested at no.3 in T20Is against Australia and performed well with two impressive half-centuries. Another option is to promote Suryakumar Yadav, the world’s No. 1 T20I batsman, to No. 3 and allow players like Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Ravindra Jadeja to excel at the end of the innings.

Reactions from Cricket world

The possibility of Virat Kohli being dropped from the ICC T20 has attracted significant attention and elicited various opinions. Numerous legendary cricket personalities have voiced their support for Kohli’s unparalleled significance to the Indian team.

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Irfan emphasized the significance of Virat Kohli in a team, stating that Kohli’s prowess as a batsman is indispensable. Irfan highlighted Kohli’s instrumental role in winning 3-4 matches for India during the previous year’s ODI World Cup. Without Kohli’s contributions, India would have potentially lost crucial matches, including group-stage encounters against Australia and New Zealand, where India encountered early setbacks.

Rumours of the BCCI contemplating dropping the former Indian captain prompted criticism from renowned England cricketer Stuart Broad. Broad highlighted Kohli’s status as the highest run-scorer in T20Is and the T20 World Cup. Expressing disbelief at the possibility, Broad emphasised Kohli’s significance in expanding the game, particularly with the ICC scheduling matches in America, such as India Vs Pakistan in New York. Broad expressed confidence that Kohli would ultimately be selected, citing his immense popularity as the biggest draw in world cricket.

The accuracy of reports suggesting Kohli’s removal remains to be confirmed. Kohli could potentially secure his position by delivering an impressive performance in the first half of IPL 2024 for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, making it difficult for selectors to leave him out.Alternatively, the decision-makers may choose to take a bold step and decide that it’s time for a transition. For further details you can refer the Telegraph article.