Earlier this month, reports emerged suggesting that Virat Kohli might face difficulty securing a spot in the 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup.
Despite being unconventional, The Telegraph highlighted the challenge of fitting Kohli into the squad for the shortest format, with his inclusion largely dependent on his performance in the upcoming Indian Premier League.
Kohli had been absent from T20Is since the 2022 World Cup but returned earlier this year during India’s series against Afghanistan in January. Interestingly, Kohli wasn’t the only senior player making a comeback to T20Is after a similar hiatus; Indian captain Rohit Sharma had also been away from the format since the World Cup in Australia two years prior.
The news of Kohli’s potential exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad caused waves in the cricket community. However, Australia’s star batsman and Kohli’s contemporary, Steve Smith, expressed his belief that India needs a player of Kohli’s caliber for high-pressure situations in the World Cup.
The T20 World Cup is set to be held in the United States and the West Indies in June this year.
“He adapts to the situation. On certain pitches, maintaining a high strike rate isn’t necessary. He adjusts his game according to the circumstances. We’ve witnessed Virat playing some remarkable innings and guiding his team to victory, whether it’s for RCB or India. I’ve been on the opposing side in the Australian team when he’s done this against us numerous times,” Smith told Star Sports.
“What we do know is that he excels under pressure. He thrives on it. These are the players you want in your team during a World Cup, players who thrive in pressure situations. Virat is undoubtedly one of them,” added the Australian batsman.
Kohli was the fourth-highest run-scorer in the 2023 Indian Premier League, accumulating 639 runs in 14 matches with an impressive strike rate of 139.82. This included two centuries and six fifties.
Ready for IPL comeback The 35-year-old batting maestro has been away from action since the T20Is against Afghanistan. Kohli opted out of the Test series against England to be with his wife Anushka Sharma as they welcomed their second child, Akaay, in March.
Kohli joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore camp last week and participated in the UnBox Event organized by the franchise at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday.