Former Cricketer Backs Virat Kohli To Win Matches: Former Indian cricketer and now commentator Irfan Pathan has backed Virat Kohli to be a match-winner for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup will kick off on June 2, mere days after IPL 2024. The tournament will be played in the West Indies and the United States.
A couple of days ago, BCCI announced the 15-man India squad going to the World Cup. For months now, there has been a debate among fans and critics about whether Virat Kohli should be a key player for India in T20s. His strike rate, which has been below par for players in the race for Orange Cap in IPL 2024, has been named as the primary issue with Kohli in this format.
But, to no one’s surprise, the 35-year-old was named in the squad that will travel to the US and will likely be a regular in the playing XI.
In the ongoing season of the IPL, Virat Kohli is the second-highest run-scorer at the moment, having scored 500 runs in 10 innings with an average of 71.42 and a strike rate of 147.49. His strike rate is the seventh highest among the top 10 run scorers this season and the 16th highest among the top 20 run scorers.
Despite all the discussion surrounding Kohli’s selection, there is no doubt that the former India captain has been a match-winner for the national team across all formats for over a decade.
Former Cricketer Backs Virat Kohli To Win Matches
This is what Irfan Pathan reckons. In a recent discussion with Irfan Pathan, the former India all-rounder predicted that Virat Kohli would pull the team out of a bind at some point in the upcoming tournament, saying:
“He is the only one who stands tall like a king when the time isn’t right. Trust me, there will be a moment in the T20 World Cup where Virat Kohli will chase for India till the very end.”
One of his best innings and arguably the most iconic inning in international cricket came in the 2022 T20 World Cup against Pakistan, when he single-handedly pulled India out of the jaws of defeat with a brilliant 82-off-53.
Pathan reminded everyone of that inning and continued to say this:
“In terms of chasing, you’ll always pick the name of Virat Kohli. He is one of the greatest names who has delivered in the most intense situations. People doubt his strike rate, but look at the way he chases targets; you won’t find a bigger name than him, so never count Virat out. I said this earlier, before the squad was unveiled: Virat Kohli is a big-match player and will make his impact in the T20 World Cup.”
India will start their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign in Group A against Ireland on June 5. The Men in Blue will then face arch-rivals Pakistan on June 9. They will then take on co-hosts the US on June 12 before concluding the group stage against Canada on June 15.
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