IND vs IRE: Not Rohit Sharma!! Virat Kohli backed to determine India's batting approach in T20 World Cup 2024

India's man of the match from the 2007 T20 World Cup final - Irfan Pathan feels Virat Kohli will set the team's batting template at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

In just 24 hours' time, the Indian team under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, will begin their ICC T20 World Cup group stages. The Men in Blue will take on Paul Stirling's Ireland in their first Group A match at the Nassau County Stadium in New York. 4 days after it, a much bigger challenge will await them in the form of Pakistan.

The latest chapter in the historic Indo-Pak rivalry will be added on June 9th for the very first time in New York. India has fond memories of playing against Pakistan in this very competition as they have lost just once out of their 7 previous meetings since 2007. The 2021 T20 WC remains the only edition wherein the Indians weren't able to beat the Pakistanis.

Irfan Pathan says the conditions in the T20 WC will be tricky

And ahead of India's World Cup campaign, Irfan Pathan spoke about the tricky surfaces that will be at play in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The former All-rounder believes that in such conditions, experienced players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will come to aid the Indian team.

When #<!---->T<!---->e<!---->a<!---->m<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d<!---->i<!---->a need a win, @<!---->i<!---->m<!---->V<!---->k<!---->o<!---->h<!---->l<!---->i and @<!---->I<!---->m<!---->R<!---->o<!---->4<!---->5 are the go-to men for the job, believes @<!---->I<!---->r<!---->f<!---->a<!---->n<!---->P<!---->a<!---->t<!---->h<!---->a<!---->n🙌

He also added that a mix of experience and knowledge of the conditions will be important in this #<!---->T<!---->2<!---->0<!---->W<!---->o<!---->r<!---->l<!---->d<!---->C<!---->u<!---->p 👀

Watch the Men in Blue in action during the ICC Men's T20… p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->L<!---->w<!---->P<!---->m<!---->W<!---->T<!---->f<!---->S<!---->n<!---->l

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) J<!---->u<!---->n<!---->e<!----> <!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Needless to say Irfan Pathan thinks that the Indian batting duo will have most of the onus in helping the team win the T20 WC title.

"I think 2-3 months ago I was saying that the Indian team needs a lot of experience in the West Indies (for the World Cup). When you go to a World Cup, you anyways need experience but when the conditions are tricky and the ball changes its direction after landing and pushes the batter to backfoot, then the experience comes into play." - Pathan said

Irfan Pathan then claimed that in such pressure situations, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are bound to come in handy. Pathan stated that they are made for these big moments. The former cricketer then shed light on the strike rate debate, claiming that neither Kohli nor Rohit will think about it as their main motive will be to help the team win.

"It is in these situations that players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma comes in handy. All the hardwork gets utilized in these big moments. These type of players are very smart. For them, the most important thing is winning and they do not just focus on strike rates." - Pathan added.

Irfan Pathan believes Virat Kohli will set India's template

Irfan Pathan concluded by saying that it will be Virat Kohli, who is going to set India's batting template at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Whether they score 140 or 150, Pathan believes the former India captain will play a huge role.

"Virat Kohli will be the leader of the pack when it comes to help the team win matches. I think he is going to be the one who sets the batting template for the team." - Irfan Pathan concluded.