While a media report suggested that Virat Kohli is not a certainty in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad, a fresh post on X (formerly Twitter) from Kirti Azad, member of India's 1983 World Cup-winning squad reveals that captain Rohit Sharma has firmly told the BCCI Secretary Jay Shah that he wants Virat Kohli to be the in the flight to USA when India depart for the marquee ICC event this year.
Azad, went on to reveal citing sources that Rohit has said that he wants Kohli in the side "at any cost". Earlier, it was a report from The Telegraph which cited sources who told them that the selectors believe that Kohli hasn't been at his best in this format, given the changing demands of this format. However, Azad's post refutes the possibility of Kohli's omission from the squad and said that Kohli playing the tournament will be made official before the squad announcement.
"Why should Jay Shah, he is not a selector, to give responsibility to Ajit Agarkar to talk to the other selectors and convince them that Virat Kohli is not getting a place in the T20 team. For this, time was given till 15th March. If sources are to be believed, Ajit Agarkar was neither able to convince himself nor the other selectors. Jay Shah asked Rohit Sharma too but Rohit said we need Virat Kohli at any cost. Virat Kohli will play the T20 World Cup and its official announcement will be made before the team selection.Nincompoops should not invovle th emselves in selection process.@imVkohli@ImRo45 @BCCI," he wrote on X.
Virat Kohli Set To Make Cricketing Comeback With IPL 2024
While Kohli was not available for selection for the five-match Test series against England at home due to personal reasons, he will be back on the cricket field plying his trade for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2024. Kohli became a father for the second time with the cricketer and his wife Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma welcoming their second child on February 15.