Much to everyone’s cheeriness, India star Virat Kohli will play the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA, starting June 1, hints an unnamed BCCI official. Contrary to earlier reports of selectors looking beyond Kohli for the 20-team-tournament mainly for his under-par strike rate, a board member assured fans of not worrying too much about it, saying the selectors don’t go by social media memes.

The India and RCB star batter is in top-notch form in the ongoing IPL 2024, leading the runs chart with 181 runs in three matches, striking at 141.4, slightly better than his strike rate in T20Is (138.16). Having scored two fifties thus far, the selectors back him to continue his golden touch while trying to improve his attacking rate.

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With the T20 World Cup squad expected to be announced by the end of April, Kohli has ample time and games at hand to work on those aspects, pressing his sure-shot case for a slot in the team for the marquee event. The right-handed batter averages over 50 (51.76) in the shorter format playing for India, having amassed 4037 runs in 109 innings.

“See, it is just the beginning (of the league) and Kohli has started fine. He will improve his strike rate as well in the coming matches. As far as I personally feel, he will make it (to the World Cup squad). Selectors don’t go by social media memes. Cricket is played on the field not on social media platforms,” the BCCI official, on condition of anonymity, said, as quoted by IANS.

All eyes on India’s T20 WC squad

Following the heartbreaking loss at last year’s 50-over World Cup final at the hands of Australia, the Men in Blue will aim to get back by winning the T20 WC later this year. 

While Captain Rohit Sharma and rookie Yashasvi Jaiswal are sure to be openers for the event, Kohli will stick to his usual number three slot. Suryakumar Yadav will play at four. SKY, as most fans call him, has been out of action since December last year, and is due to return to appear for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024. 

For the middle order, India has plenty of options to look at, ranging from Hardik Pandya to Rinku Singh to Shivam Dube to Tilak Varma. The question mark around the wicketkeepers is also there, with several players back in reckoning for selection.

Getting to the bowling department, India is sure to pick Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav, while the remaining spots will be up for grabs. 

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