IND vs IRE: Virat Kohli to miss India's opening T20 World Cup match vs Ireland? Legend skips nets

The Indian cricket team wrapped up their preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 with a resounding 60-run victory over Bangladesh in their solitary warm-up match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York last week.

India showcased formidable performances across the department, with Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, and Shivam Dube being the shining stars in the dominating win of the Men in Blue against Bangladesh, despite the notable absence of Virat Kohli from the game and practice sessions.

Kohli was the only player from India’s T20 World Cup 2024 who didn’t take part in the warm-up game against Bangladesh. It is being said that the former Indian skipper took a pre-approved extended break following an intense IPL 2024 season, which ended with Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) heartbreaking loss in the eliminator against the Rajasthan Royals (RR).

Virat Kohli misses practice sessions in New York

However, the dashing right-hander Kohli joined the Indian cricket team in New York on the eve of the T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up game against Bangladesh, but he was given rest to recuperate by the BCCI before diving back into action.

Interestingly, Kohli missed all three practice sessions held at Cantiague Park, a makeshift venue set up by the ICC for T20 World Cup 2024 preparations in New York, raising eyebrows among fans and critics. With India’s T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Ireland just two days away, anticipation in New York reached a fever pitch.

The fans were hoping to catch a glimpse of Kohli in action during the practice sessions, but their expectations were dashed as Team India was given a well-deserved rest day following their win over Bangladesh in the warm-up match.

According to journalist Vimal Kumar, reporting from the USA, the 35-year-old was expected to have his first practice session on Sunday, June 2, but the Indian team granted him a rest day after their warm-up game, resulting in his missed another practice session, while Sri Lanka and South Africa conducted their training drills at Cantiague Park for their T20 World Cup 2024 clash.

Virat Kohli likely to train in New York on Monday

Well, despite the setback for fans, it is being said that Kohli will participate in India's first official training session on Monday, June 3, before they face Ireland in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener on Wednesday, June 5, at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.

However, the timing of this training session has not yet been confirmed, but it will be very crucial for Kohli to find a way to a way to regain his rhythm and acclimate to the conditions, along with integrating seamlessly with the team, before they begin their quest for the coveted ICC title.

Notably, Kohli had a stellar IPL 2024, where he won the Orange Cap for the second time in his career for scoring a phenomenal 741 runs for the RCB. He is also the leading run-scorer in T20 World Cup history, having amassed 1141 runs across 27 matches for India since 2012.