IND vs AFG: Virat Kohli Opts Out Of 1st T20I Due To Personal Reasons

Indian batsman Virat Kohli will be missing the first T20I match against Afghanistan. Indian head coach Rahul Dravid informed about the development while addressing the pre-match press conference. Virat returned to the Indian T20I side after the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final against England along with Rohit Sharma.

Rohit Sharma will lead India in the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan and the first T20I will be played at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali. Apart from Rohit and Virat Kohli, the other 14 members of the team do not have much international experience and this will be India’s last T20I series ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024.

Virat Kohli unavailable for the first IND vs AFG T20I match, to return For 2nd & 3rd T20I

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Virat Kohli to miss the first T20I in Mohali because of Personal Reasons

– Rahul Dravid#INDvsAFG pic.twitter.com/nTxgd5hoov

— Kanav Bali? (@Concussion__Sub) January 10, 2024

Virat Kohli had a brilliant return to the Indian cricket team and was the Player of the Tournament in the recently concluded ODI World Cup. Virat slammed 765 runs from 11 matches in the tournament and also hit three centuries. Kohli also became the first Indian batsman to hit 50 ODI hundreds and broke Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar’s record.

Virat Kohli has not played a single T20I match after the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against England. India faced a disappointing ten-wicket loss at the hands of the Three Lions and their dream of not winning an ICC title for the last ten years was once again broken.

There were rumors that Virat Kohli would not play in the T20 World Cup 2024, however, his selection in the T20I series against Afghanistan has confirmed his availability in the upcoming tournament all set to start on June 1.

The Indian team are part of Group A which consists of the likes of the USA, Canada, Ireland, and Pakistan. India will play their opening match of the tournament on June 5 whereas they will be up against Pakistan on June 9. India have the best chance to end their ICC title drought and are the key favorites to lift the trophy.

Virat Kohli was in sublime form during the 2022 T20 World Cup and played a marvelous knock against Pakistan. Kohli played a knock of 82* runs and helped India win an almost-lost match.

However, there was a period in Virat Kohli’s international career when runs had almost dried up from the bat of the ‘modern master’. However, ever since 2022, Virat made a fantastic comeback to international cricket and has been raining runs in all formats of international cricket.

Virat Kohli has ruled world cricket for over a decade and has been the leading run-scorer after almost every year. Kohli was the second leading run scorer in the year 2023 and scored the most eight hundreds in the year. Kohli will now want to help India win an ICC title after 11 years.

Virat Kohli has been brilliant in the Indian Premier League for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and was amongst the top run scorers of the tournament. Kohli also looked in decent form during the Test series against South Africa and will want to continue the same form in the T20I series against Afghanistan.