The highly anticipated ninth edition of the T20 World Cup is fast approaching, presenting a pivotal opportunity for the Indian cricket team to seize the coveted ICC silverware. Captain Rohit Sharma, who tasted victory in the inaugural edition of the tournament 17 years ago, and coach Rahul Dravid, whose contract expires at the end of the event, are determined to make the most of this chance.
Despite varying opinions, Sharma, Dravid, and BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar firmly believe that India has assembled its strongest possible squad of 15 players for the World Cup. Star performers like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja are all set to make their mark, while exciting opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and wicketkeeper Sanju Samson have earned well-deserved call-ups. Shivam Dube’s impressive rise has secured him a spot at the expense of Rinku Singh, and despite a disappointing IPL campaign, Hardik Pandya remains the designated vice-captain.
While many would expect a team of such caliber to dominate, former Australian Test captain Tim Paine has issued a subtle warning. Paine believes that India’s collective efforts may not be enough to secure victory, emphasizing the critical role of Virat Kohli. Drawing parallels to Glenn Maxwell’s form in the Australian team, Paine suggests that Kohli’s performance will directly impact India’s chances of lifting the World Cup.
However, the current form of Kohli and Maxwell presents a stark contrast. Kohli has been on fire in IPL 2024, amassing over 500 runs, including a century, and holding the Orange Cap. In contrast, Maxwell has endured a dismal season with only 36 runs from 8 matches, making it his worst IPL campaign. While Kohli and Rajat Patidar have been the shining lights for RCB, their playoff hopes hang in the balance ahead of a crucial clash with Chennai Super Kings on Saturday.
Kohli’s resurgence is a welcome sight for India, as he was the leading run-scorer in the last two World Cups. In the 2022 T20 World Cup, he amassed 296 runs from six matches at an average of 98.66, while in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, he scored 765 runs from 11 games at an average of 95.62. Nevertheless, history shows that being the highest run-getter is not always enough to lead a team to victory.
At 35 years of age, this could be Kohli’s last T20 World Cup, as he will be 37 by the time the next edition rolls around. Having come close to winning the title in 2014, 2016, and 2022, Kohli will be eager to replicate his RCB form for the Men in Blue when India kicks off its campaign against Ireland on June 5.
