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India cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his belief that it is too early to discuss Virat Kohli’s inclusion in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad. Gavaskar emphasized that Kohli’s place should be decided on the basis of his form during the upcoming edition of the IPL and not by speculating long in advance. Following India’s dismal performance in the 2022 T20 World Cup under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, rumors began to circulate about possible changes to the T20I squad, including the phasing out of both Sharma and Kohli. However, Kohli has been in scintillating form in T20 cricket in recent months, showcasing his extraordinary talent.
During IPL 2023, Kohli achieved a remarkable feat by scoring consecutive centuries, surpassing Chris Gayle’s record for most IPL centuries. He scored a total of 639 runs in 14 matches at an average of 53.25 and a strike rate of 139.82, including two centuries and six fifties. Appraising Kohli’s current form, Gavaskar reiterated that the 34-year-old unquestionably deserves a place in India’s T20I squad for the upcoming matches.
Sunil Gavaskar said, ‘Virat Kohli will be in my T20 team for West Indies series after his performance in IPL.’ (by sports) pic.twitter.com/ScC0sDAMDu– Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 25, 2023
When asked about Kohli’s inclusion in the 2024 T20 World Cup squad, Gavaskar told Sports Tak, “The next T20 World Cup will be played in 2024. Before that there will be another IPL in March-April. Kohli’s form was seen at that time. Must go… There is no point in talking about it now.” He further said that the selection discussion for the World Cup squad should be based on the performance of the players in the IPL, which will be held before the event in West Indies and USA.
Despite Kohli’s exceptional performance, his team, Royal Challengers Bangalore, failed to qualify for the IPL 2023 playoffs, finishing sixth on the points table after a loss against Gujarat Titans in their last league game.
Gavaskar’s approach highlights the importance of assessing players’ form closer to the tournament rather than making premature decisions. While Kohli’s recent performances have been excellent, the final decision regarding his inclusion in the 2024 T20 World Cup squad should be based on his form in the upcoming IPL. By adopting this approach, the Indian selectors can ensure that the squad consists of players who are in the best possible form and ready to compete at the highest level on the global stage.
