With a blend of 11 fours and 2 sixes, Kohli elegantly crafted a 77-run innings off just 49 balls against Punjab Kings, strengthening his argument for selection in the Indian squad for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup slated for June.
In a subtle jab, Virat Kohli addressed recent remarks made by his former Indian coach Ravi Shastri regarding the ex-RCB captain’s potential inclusion in the upcoming T20 World Cup squad.
“I know my name is now attached to just promoting the game in different parts of the world when it comes to T20 cricket. I’ve still got it I guess,” Kohli said with a smile after being honored as the player of the match for his remarkable 77-run innings against Punjab Kings.
During his commentary stint in the Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians match on Sunday, Kevin Pietersen expressed the view that the T20 World Cup in the USA would benefit from having someone like Kohli to foster the growth of the game as a global sport.
“The World Cup is happening in the USA. India are playing Pakistan in New York. You’d want someone like a Virat Kohli to help the game grow,” Pietersen said.
Responding to Pietersen’s suggestion, Shastri emphasized the importance of winning the competition over prioritizing growth. He advocated for India to enter the World Cup with a young side, drawing parallels to the successful strategy employed during the 2007 edition of the competition.
“It’s not about growing the game, it’s about winning the competition. The game will grow wherever it needs to grow. What I’m trying to say is no baggage. And India won in 2007 T20 World Cup with a young side. You want youth. You want flamboyance. You want that dash,” the former India coach had said.
Kohli’s stellar innings proved pivotal in steering RCB to a thrilling 4-wicket victory over PBKS, captivating a packed Chinnaswamy crowd.
With a flurry of eleven fours and two sixes, Kohli showcased his prowess, scoring 77 runs off 49 balls, strengthening his bid for selection in the Indian squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup in June. His innings came to an end when Harshal Patel dismissed him while attempting another boundary, only to be caught by a diving Harpreet Brar.
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