Veteran Australian batter Steve Smith lauded Virat Kohli amidst the speculations over his exclusion from India’s squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Steve Smith expressed confidence in Virat Kohli’s batting capability to deliver when it matters most.
Earlier this month, reports surfaced suggesting Virat Kohli’s exclusion from the 15-member squad for this year’s T20 World Cup. The Telegraph mentioned the selectors’ concerns about Kohli’s adaptability to slow pitches in the Caribbean Islands and the USA.
Following his absence from T20Is since the 2022 World Cup, Kohli returned to the Indian T20I team earlier this year for the Afghanistan series. The right-handed batter featured in the last two matches and managed to score 29 runs, including a duck in the last game.
Not only Kohli but also Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, returned to T20I cricket after a comparable hiatus following the World Cup in Australia two years ago. BCCI secretary Jay Shah recently confirmed Rohit’s leadership for the upcoming ICC tournament.
Virat Kohli Is Certainly One Of Those – Steve Smith
Steve Smith emphasized that India needs a player of Virat Kohli‘s caliber for high-pressure scenarios in the tournament, citing examples of Kohli’s masterful innings that have secured victories for his team.
“He plays the situation. Some wickets you play on, your strike rate doesn’t need to be high. You play according to what’s in front of you. We have seen Virat play some masterclass innings and get his team over the line, whether it has been RCB or India. I’ve been on the opposition in the Australian team when he has done this against us on numerous occasions,” Smith told Star Sports.
“What we know is that he plays extremely well under pressure. He loves that. It’s those players who you want in your team when you go into the World Cup and face pressure situations. You want the experienced players who stand up in those situations, and Virat is certainly one of those,” he further added.
The inclusion of Kohli in the squad for the shortest format hinges largely on his performance in the upcoming Indian Premier League edition. The 35-year-old emerged as the fourth-highest run scorer in the 2023 IPL. He scored 639 runs in 14 matches, featuring two centuries and six fifties, at an impressive average of 53.25 and a strike rate of 139.82.
Virat Kohli To Represent Royal Challengers Bangalore In IPL 2024
The Delhi-born cricketer has been inactive since the T20Is against Afghanistan. The batting maestro withdrew from the recent five-match Test series against England to support his wife, Anushka Sharma, during the birth of their second child, Akaay, in March.
Last week, Kohli joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore camp and participated in the franchise’s UnBox Event at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday. The RCB will commence their IPL 2024 campaign against the Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk on March 22.
RCB Squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Suyash Prabhudessai, Will Jacks, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Cameron Green, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Swapnil Singh, Saurav Chauhan.
Also read: Virat Kohli to change his batting position in IPL 2024? Former Indian cricketer’s shocking revelation
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