Stuart Broad fires 'Virat Kohli is biggest draw' warning amid reports of batter's T20 WC snub

Updated - 12 Mar 2024, 09:30 PM

Stuart Broad, Virat Kohli
PC: X/Twitter

England National Cricket Team pace bowling great Stuart Broad has shared his reaction to the recent reports of the India National Cricket Team batting stalwart Virat Kohli being left out of the squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which will be held in June in the West Indies and USA.

On Tuesday, March 12, reports emerged that claimed that there was a huge question mark over the selection of Virat Kohli in India’s T20 World Cup squad.

According to ‘The Telegraph’, the BCCI selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar is of the opinion that the batting style of Kohli won’t be ideal for the conditions that will be on offer in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA. Notably, the pitches are expected to be on a slower side during the marquee tournament.

The BCCI has given full power to the selection committee and team management to make some harsh calls heading into the competition with a focus on ending India’s ICC title drought.

It is also being reported that Ajit Agarkar spoke to Kohli and informed him about playing an attacking brand of cricket in T20Is. Notably, Kohli tried playing attacking cricket on his T20I return against Afghanistan in January. In his first outing, he smashed 29 runs off 16 balls, with 5 fours, and in the next match, he bagged a duck.

According to reports, the BCCI selection committee might convince Kohli to make way for power-hitters like Shivam Dube in the team as they can add more value during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The reports have received mixed reactions from fans and now the England bowling great Stuart Broad has shared his views on the matter.

This can’t be true – Stuart Broad surprised at reports of Virat Kohli’s T20 World Cup snub

Replying to a post on X, Stuart Broad stated that the reports can’t be true and that the batting superstar will definitely be part of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad. He also labeled Virat Kohli as the biggest draw in world cricket.

“This can’t be true. Just from a fans point of view of growing the game, the ICC putting games on in America, India Vs Pakistan in New York, Virat is the biggest draw of any player in the world, I’m sure he will be selected,” the England National Cricket Team bowling great posted.

Virat Kohli is the leading run-getter in the history of T20I cricket. In 117 T20Is, he has slammed 4037 runs at an amazing average of 51.75 at a decent strike rate of 138.15. The top-order batsman has smashed 1 hundred and 37 fifties in the format with the best score of 122*.

Kohli was part of India’s squad in the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia and he was just exceptional with the bat. He played arguably the greatest T20I innings in history when he snatched a win for India from the jaws of defeat against Pakistan. India were off to a horrible start against Pakistan as they were reduced to 31/4. That was when Virat Kohli stepped up and smashed 82 runs off 53 balls, with 6 fours and 4 sixes, to guide India to a win.

Overall, Virat Kohli finished as the top run-getter in the competition as he scored 296 runs at an astonishing average of 98.66 and a strike rate of 136.4 with 4 fifty-plus scores.

Tagged:

England National Cricket Team ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 India National Cricket Team Stuart Broad T20 World Cup 2024 Virat Kohli