Former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar has raised his voice in favor of Virat Kohli being included in the T20 World Cup 2024. The tournament is scheduled to take place in the West Indies and the US from June 4 to 30. Bangar believes that having an experienced player like Kohli will be crucial for India in important matches.
Kohli was a member of the Indian cricket team that reached the semi-finals in the 2022 T20 World Cup held in Australia. He also emerged as the top scorer of the tournament and gathered 296 runs across six matches at an impressive average of 98.67 and a strike rate of 136.41.
In the much-anticipated match against Pakistan, the 34-year-old delivered an exceptional performance and smashed an unbeaten 82 runs from 53 balls. With his remarkable innings played out at the MCG, India won a thrilling last-ball victory for India.
Raising his voice in favour of Kohli, Sanjay Bangar said,”Hundred percent, he should be there in the T20 team. What he did in the previous T20 World Cup and in those close matches, I don’t see the reason why he can’t be seen playing T20 cricket and next year’s T20 World Cup.”
Bangar said that having a player like Kohli is much needed in order to stabilise the team in crunch situations.
“You know that in big situations where emotions run high, one small mistake could cost you dear. You need big players who have gone through those situations. At that point, it doesn’t really matter what your strike-rate is, or what you have done in the IPL, in big games you require big match players. He (Kohli) showed such spirit in the India-Pakistan game.”