New Delhi: Virat Kohli is reportedly all but certain to feature in India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star is currently the leading run-getter in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 and has been enjoying a purple patch for his franchise. Despite questions surrounding his intent and strike rate, Kohli is likely to make the cut.
As per a report in Cricbuzz, it is almost certain that Kohli will be in the squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 which is scheduled to be staged in the US and the Caribbean in June-July this year. Earlier there were speculations that the selectors were not keen on picking Kohli in the squad for the showpiece event considering his struggles against spin and his inability to play attacking cricket from the word go.
However, Kohli’s impressive run in IPL 2024 seems to have worked in his favour and it will be difficult for the selectors to look past him. Meanwhile, the report also claims that wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant has pipped others in the race for the wicket-keeper batter spot in the T20 World Cup squad. Pant made his much-awaited comeback for Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2024 and has been in fine form for the franchise.
There were doubts over Pant’s overall fitness and form ahead of his return in IPL 2024 with many expecting him to not keep wickets to manage his workload initially. However, the DC skipper is not only keeping wickets but is also leading his team and has been batting exceptionally well. He has already smashed two half-centuries this season and currently has 153 runs from 5 matches at an average of over 30 and an impressive strike rate of 154.55.
As per Cricbuzz, Pant’s recent performances in the IPL 2024 have given him a ‘definite’ edge over his competitors for the wicket-keeper batter’s spot. The likes of Jiitesh Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan are all in contention for a spot in the team but it seems Pant is currently the favourite to be the no.1 wicket-keeper batter for India in the T20 World Cup 2024.
As per the report, the dilemma before the selectors is how to accommodate Shubman Gill in the squad with Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal likely to be the two openers and Virat Kohli set to bat at no.3. If Kohli is picked in the squad, it will also increase the headache for the team management on how to include the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Rinku Singh among others in the playing XI.
Both Suryakumar and Rinku are sure shot selections along with pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who has been in brilliant form for Rajasthan Royals in the ongoing IPL 2024, is also in the race despite facing intense competition from the likes of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel.
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