Virat Kohli gets a strong backing from former Australian captain amid speculations over his spot in India squad for T20 World Cup 2024

Updated - 27 Mar 2024, 03:35 PM

Virat Kohli Jay Shah
Virat Kohli Jay Shah.Image Credits: Twitter

Former Australia skipper Aaron Finch criticized the ongoing debate surrounding Virat Kohli’s inclusion in Team India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Aaron Finch described Virat Kohli as the greatest white-ball player he has ever seen in cricket.

Virat Kohli has participated in only two T20I matches since India’s semi-final exit from the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. Kohli was included in India’s squad for the T20I series against Afghanistan earlier this year, where he scored 29 runs and 0 in two matches.

The ace batter scored 296 runs with an exceptional average of nearly 99 in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Kohli currently holds the record for the highest run tally in T20 World Cup history, amassing 1,141 runs at an impressive average of over 81 across 27 matches.

The Telegraph previously reported that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the team management are hesitant to include Kohli in the squad. The selectors are leaning towards younger players over the 35-year-old batter for the T20 World Cup squad.

Virat Kohli responded to critics with a stellar 77 runs off 49 deliveries against the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The veteran batter expressed confidence in his batting abilities, stating that his name was being utilized to promote the game.

Virat Kohli Is The Greatest Player – Aaron Finch

Aaron Finch responded to reports of Virat Kohli‘s potential exclusion from the World Cup, dismissing the speculation as the biggest load of rubbish he has ever heard.

“I can’t understand why every time there is an ICC event coming up in any format, people always talk about Virat Kohli, is he under pressure for his spot? That is the biggest load of rubbish I have ever heard in my life. He is the greatest player that I have seen in white ball cricket,” Aaron Finch said on Around the Wicket.

The Delhi-born cricketer excelled in the previous IPL, amassing 639 runs with a remarkable average of 53.25, featuring two centuries and six fifties. He commenced this year’s tournament with a stellar performance, showcasing his prowess in the first two games.

With India’s T20 World Cup squad anticipated to be revealed by mid-May, Kohli has ample opportunities to further showcase his form and secure his spot.

Gets The Job Done In The Big Games – Aaron Finch

Aaron Finch highlighted Virat Kohli’s consistency in crucial matches as what sets him apart from others. Finch dismissed ongoing debates about Kohli’s performance, emphasizing his reliability in crucial situations.

“It does not matter whether he strikes at 140, and there are guys that strike at 160. If I am picking a team, you are picking a guy, who you know day in day out, gets the job done in the big games. So, it is just ludicrous that we keep having this conversation,” Finch added.

After missing the home Test series against England due to his second child’s birth, Kohli made a comeback to cricket. He appears to be in excellent form, showing determination to earn a spot in the World Cup squad based on performance.

Also read: Watch- Shubman Gill and Vijay Shankar make fun of Virat Kohli’s RCB after watching the Most Hated Partnership in the IPL

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Aaron Finch ICC T20 World Cup 2024 India National Cricket Team Virat Kohli