The Indian cricket team led by Rohit Sharma had arrived in New York without Virat Kohli for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which begins on June 1 in the USA and the Caribbean.
The first batch of Indian players, including Rohit, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, arrived in New York on May 26. However, apart from Kohli, Hardik Pandya was not accompanied by the first batch of the Indian cricket team to New York.
Will Virat Kohli miss India’s warm-up match against Bangladesh?
However, Indian all-rounder Hardik and other players joined Team India ahead of the first training session on May 29 in New York, with Kohli being the only absentee from the T20 World Cup 2024 squad.
As all the players, including the travelling reserves, arrived in the USA for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup, there was much speculation about Kohli’s availability for India’s only warm-up match against Bangladesh at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Saturday, June 1.
There were reports that the former Indians captain would miss the warm-up match against the Tigers and some even speculated that there was no clarity on when the IPL 2024 Orange Caps winner would join the team in New York.
Virat Kohli travels to the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
Well, despite all the rumours, the dashing right-hander travelled to the USA on Thursday, May 30, for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. He was spotted at the Mumbai airport on Thursday evening as he left for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Kohli was once again swarmed by fans and paparazzi as he made his way towards the wicket.
In a viral video, the Indian batting maestro was also seen interacting with the paparazzi and fans outside the airport. When the paparazzi thanked him for the gift on the birth of his son Akaay, Kohli was quick to thank his wife Anushka Sharma.
He told the paparazzi: “Ma’am ne diya bhai, Maine nehi diya (Anushka gave the gifts, not me).” Kohli also won the hearts of fans by signing autographs for them at the airport.
Look here:
#VIRATKÖHmI finally leaves for the USA in the middle of #T20BÖRmDCSheP buzz
However, it remains uncertain whether Kohli will be able to take part in Saturday’s only warm-up match against Bangladesh after his long flight.
📷 YOU pIC.TmITTtR.CÖM/MNC8thÖIE2K2
— Mohit Tanwar (@funnycric) MAj 31, 2024
Virat Kohli signs autographs for fans at the airport. 👏
Nice gesture from King Kohli 👑❤️ pIC.TmITTtR.CÖM/FPRagainstP0FABagainst
— Virat Kohli Fan Club (@Trend_VKohli) MAj 30, 2024
However, it remains uncertain whether Kohli will participate in India’s only warm-up match against Bangladesh after his long flight from Mumbai to New York, but his departure has certainly put an end to all speculation about his short break and immediate availability for the big event.
Virat Kohli will play an important role in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup
Well, Kohli would surely like to continue his top form from the IPL 2024 in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, where the ‘Men in Blue’ will start their campaign against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on June 5, followed by a big clash with Pakistan on June 9.
The former RCB captain scored 741 runs and won the Orange Cap in the IPL 2024. He is now expected to play a crucial role in the Indian team’s campaign in the T20 World Cup 2024.
Virat is the highest run-scorer in the T20 World Cup, with 1,141 runs in just 27 matches, an astonishing average of 81.5 and a strike rate of 131. However, in this edition of the T20 World Cup, he would like to improve his strike rate.