Along with the new year, January has brought in a vital period for the Indian cricket team. From January 11, India will play a T20I series against Afghanistan, their last series ahead of the T20 World Cup in June.
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One of the most pressing questions on hand is whether Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will make the squad for both the Afghanistan series and the World Cup. According to early reports, it appears that the Indian team management will stick with Rohit as the captain of the side, while Kohli is set to be left out.
But should Virat Kohli be on the plane for the T20 World Cup? Here, The Sporting News presents five reasons why the India star should be included in the squad.
Five reasons why Virat Kohli should play in the 2024 T20 World Cup for India
World's best anchor
There are concerns over whether or not Kohli is a natural fit for the T20 game. It is true that other, more explosive players exist in the format. However, there is no doubting that at when it comes to accumulating runs, the India star is perhaps the best in the world.
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With an average of over 50 in the shortest format, Kohli is a supreme anchor, able to hold up secure one end and allow others to play aggressively around him. For a World Cup which has a few tricky wickets and some unknown ones in the USA, taking the world's best anchor is a solid bet.
Chasing ability
Apart from being a fantastic run-scorer, part of Kohli's specialty comes from his superb ability to orchestrate a chase. We have seen this ability on display countless times in ODIs, and while he may not necessarily help chase totals in excess of 200, Kohli can almost always guide a 160-180 chase to success.
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For context, Kohli averages 76.8 in the second innings of T20I matches, the highest among top 3 batters with at least 25 innings played. A distant second on the list is Jos Buttler, at 46.7.
Role flexibility
Out of 117 innings in T20Is, Kohli has batted at number 3 78 times. If he plays in the T20 World Cup, this is unlikely to change. However, he can also open the innings in T20s, as he has done in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
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A third option for Kohli to fit into the side could even be as a finisher, if he was willing. His ability to take on pacers in the death overs is phenomenal, as evidenced by his strike rate of 200+ in overs 16-20. If India would prefer more aggressive players in the middle overs, Kohli could be pushed down to play this role exclusively.
Leadership & experience
The India star has been on the scene since 2008, coming up on nearly 16 years on the international circuit. Having been a national team and T20 franchise captain as well, Kohli has a ton of experience and leadership, which could be invaluable in what is likely to be a relatively young squad.
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Recent clips from the India vs South Africa series showed Kohli in frequent consultation with Rohit Sharma and the Indian bowlers, suggesting that his input on the field is still highly valued.
Fitness & fielding/Part-time bowler
Tying into the point on leadership, is Kohli's high standard of fielding. Even at the age of 35, he remains a livewire on the field, and continues to save crucial runs in the hotspots at covers and long on. He is also likely to serve as an example for the younger players.
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As we saw in the World Cup, Kohli can also be a useful bowling option in a pinch. India have a lack of top-order batters who can roll their arm over, and he could fill in for a couple of overs here and there.
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