Former Indian cricket captain and ex-chairman of the selection committee, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, vehemently supported the inclusion of Virat Kohli in the Indian T20 World Cup squad, dismissing any rumours suggesting otherwise.
“No chance. It’s not possible to be without Virat Kohli at the T20 World Cup. He is the one who took us to the semifinals in T20 World Cup 2022. Who is saying all this? These rumour-mongers, don’t they have any other job? What is the basis for all this chatter? If India have to win the T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli is a must in the squad,” Srikkanth said in his YouTube show.
Kohli returned to T20I action in January against Afghanistan after a hiatus since the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal loss to England. The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, expressed their intention to have Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma back in the T20I lineup, signalling their plans for the upcoming T20 World Cup. However, recent reports emerged stating that Virat Kohli is set to be excluded from the T20 WC Squad.
We need Virat Kohli: Srikkanth
Srikkanth highlighted Kohli’s crucial role in India’s previous T20 World Cup campaign, where he played a pivotal role in guiding the team to the semifinals. He refuted the speculations about Kohli’s exclusion, emphasizing his indispensability for India’s success in the tournament.
Addressing concerns about Kohli’s strike rate, Srikkanth praised his adaptability and stellar performances in the previous T20 World Cup, where he emerged as the leading run-scorer. He stressed the importance of having a dependable anchor in the batting lineup, particularly in the challenging conditions expected in the West Indies.
“You need a guy who can just stay there. India need that sheet anchor, be it T20 World Cup or ODI World Cup. Without Virat Kohli, the Indian team cannot go. We need Virat Kohli, 100 per cent,” he said.
Srikkanth urged the Indian team to stand behind Kohli and strive for World Cup glory, likening the situation to Sachin Tendulkar’s triumph in the 2011 ODI World Cup. He emphasized Kohli’s contributions to Indian cricket and called for the team to win the World Cup as a tribute to him.
“Virat Kohli should be honored like Sachin Tendulkar was in 2011. The Indian team should win the World Cup for Virat. It will be a great achievement for him,” Srikkanth concluded.
Kohli is anticipated to rejoin the RCB team before their IPL season opener against the Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on March 22.
