BCCI officials are gearing up for a crucial meeting with Virat Kohli to deliberate on his role in T20Is, as recent reports suggest he might not be the first-choice player for India’s T20I XI anymore. Despite being the leading run-scorer in the ODI World Cup 2023, Kohli’s position in T20Is has come under scrutiny ahead of the T20 World Cup in June 2024.
In a marathon five-hour meeting in New Delhi, the BCCI’s top brass, including captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Rahul Dravid, and the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar, formulated a roadmap for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. India has only six T20Is – three in South Africa and three against Afghanistan – to finalize the squad for the marquee event.
While Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah have requested breaks from the South Africa tour, leaving only three T20Is against Afghanistan for the selectors to assess the full-strength squad, the spotlight is on Virat Kohli’s position. Reports suggest that while Rohit and Bumrah are automatic choices, Kohli’s spot in the T20 World Cup squad is not guaranteed.
BCCI officials conveyed to Rohit Sharma during the meeting that they envision him leading the Indian side in the T20 World Cup. Although both Rohit and Kohli haven’t played in this format since the T20 World Cup 2022, Rohit’s stellar performance in the ODI World Cup has earned him strong consideration for the T20 format.
In contrast, Virat Kohli, despite rewriting records in the ODI World Cup, is reportedly not the preferred choice at No.3 in T20Is. The selectors and the board are eyeing a player who can play aggressive cricket from the outset, and Ishan Kishan emerges as the frontrunner for the No.3 spot. Kohli’s candidacy will be reconsidered based on his IPL 2024 performance, considering his usual opening role for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, with the opening slots currently filled, either Yashasvi Jaiswal or Shubman Gill is likely to partner Rohit at the top, with the other serving as a backup opener.
