It makes no sense to DROP Virat Kohli for the 2024 T20I World Cup

With reports suggesting Ishan Kishan could be India's new number 3 in T20Is, it would be a move that would hurt India.

It makes no sense to DROP Virat Kohli for the 2024 T20I World Cup

Virat Kohli is applauded by the Melbourne Cricket Ground for his phenomenal innings (Image via ESPN)

Indian batter Virat Kohli is regarded as the best T20 batter the world has ever seen. Regarded as one the best chasers of the game, his chase against Australia in the 2016 World Cup or the one against Pakistan in the 2022 World Cup are often called the best T20 innings ever seen. 

Just over a year after the Diwali miracle, where Kohli scored 82 against Pakistan, reports came out where the BCCI planned to replace him with the more aggressive Ishan Kishan. This move is not one that should happen, as it will hurt the Indian team more than help. 

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Kohli’s ability to anchor a T20I innings has not been seen in any other batter who has played for India. The closest player that comes to his style of play is KL Rahul, but he has since been dropped from the T20I team. His innings against Pakistan is a testament to how patience is a must in the fast-paced format. He was also the leading run scorer in two T20 World Cups, 2014 and 2022. 

Dropping probably the greatest batter to grace the format for Kishan, who has had a lackluster T20I career, might be one of the worst decisions by the Indian team management. Kishan is talented, but he’s yet to set a mark in the international circuit as he averages 25.7 with a strike rate of only 127. In comparison, Kohli strikes at 137.97. The best option for the Indian team is to stick with Kohli and then look for his successor at number 3 after the 2024 T20 World Cup. 

Should Rohit Sharma return as captain? 

There is no denying that Rohit Sharma is one of the best T20 openers seen in the world. His aggressive nature is something many teams desire and despite not playing a T20I for ever a year, he should return as an opener. But as a captain? It would be unfair to Hardik Pandya. 

Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma (Image via ESPN)

Ever since the 2022 T20 World Cup, the Indian batting line up has discovered which player to play in which position, except two. The entire team has been revamped with young rising stars proving their worth in the international circuit, like Rinku Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravi Bishnoi and Mukesh Kumar. 

But as these young stars have played with Hardik Pandya as their captain, the Indian team should also continue with the all-rounder captaining the team. Sharma has not featured for the Indian team in over a year. Him returning as captain despite not playing a single game would be unfair to Pandya, who has led the team excellently. 

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