Virat Kohli set to be removed from the T20 World Cup squad? - Report - Cricket Winner

Swashbuckling India batter Virat Kohli will have to perform exceptionally well in the IPL 2024 to return to the T20 World Cup squad. If a report in the ‘Telegraph’ is to be believed, the selectors are not so keen on picking him for the T20 World Cup as the management believes Kohli has failed to cope with the team’s needs in the T20 format as well.

However, Virat Kohli has not played any T20I cricket since the T20 World Cup 2022, but he was picked in the squad for the Afghanistan T20I series along with Rohit Sharma. Meanwhile, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah later confirmed that Rohit Sharma will lead the team in the T20 World Cup, however, he didn’t say anything about Virat Kohli’s T20I future.

Virat Kohli is a vital cog for India

The report also states that the BCCI has left Kohli’s selection conundrum to the Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar and not many people want to get involved in this matter as well. Moreover, it is understood that Agarkar spoke to Kohli about the change in approach in T20Is, which Kohli tried to implement in the T20I series against Afghanistan as well.

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The management also feels that the slow wickets of West Indies will not suit Virat Kohli that’s why Ajit Aagarkar will convince Kohli to make way for the youngsters. The BCCI also feels that youngsters like Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, and Shivam Dube, among others can play better than Kohli in the T20I format.

Youngsters to be preferred over Virat Kohli

Meanwhile, the report also shared that KL Rahul is preferred for the wicketkeeper’s role in the T20 World Cup squad, but his fitness is a major concern for the selectors. On the other hand, Dhruv Jurel had a great Test series against England and Jitesh Sharma also impressed everyone with his blistering batting in the T20I series against South Africa.

Moreover, the selectors will keep an eye on the youngsters’ performance in the IPL so that they can pick the squad for the T20 World Cup as well.