Former India captain and ex-selection committee chairman Kris Srikkanth has lashed out at rumours over Virat Kohli’s place in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad, saying that the star batter is a must for the team if they are to go on and win the trophy. The T20 World Cup will be played in the USA and the West Indies from June 1, weeks after the completion of IPL 2024.
Ahead of his competitive return, a media report claimed that the senior selection committee was mulling not considering Virat Kohli for the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.
“No chance. It’s not possible to be without Virat Kohli at the T20 World Cup. He is the one who took us to the semi-finals in T20 World Cup 2022. He was the Man of the Tournament. Who is saying all this? These rumour-mongers, don’t they have any other job? What is the basis for all this chatter? If India have to win the T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli is a must in the squad,” Srikkanth said in his YouTube show.
“You need a guy who can just stay there. India need that sheet anchor, be it T20 World Cup or ODI World Cup,” he added.
“Without Virat Kohli, the Indian team cannot go. We need Virat Kohli, 100 percent. I still believe Virat Kohli should be honoured like how Sachin Tendulkar was in 2011. The Indian team should win the World Cup for Virat. It will be a great thing for Virat Kohli,” he added.
Virat Kohli is expected to join the Royal Challengers Bangalore camp over the weekend in Bengaluru. RCB will open their campaign in Chennai against defending champions Super Kings on March 22.
