Despite Virat Kohli’s remarkable batting performances in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), concerns about his strike rate persist. With 316 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 146.29, critics argue that his scoring pace might not be sufficient. This debate has been fueled by speculation that Kohli might not secure a spot in the T20 World Cup squad, especially with alternatives like Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Rinku Singh available, known for their ability to bat at a higher strike rate.
Adding a lighter perspective to the discussion, Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate, Glenn Maxwell, humorously suggested that India should not include the 35-year-old in the mega tournament. Despite his jest, Maxwell acknowledged Kohli’s prowess as a clutch player, reminiscing about Kohli’s legendary 82* knock against Australia in Mohali during the 2016 T20 World Cup.
Glenn Maxwell emphasized Kohli’s unparalleled ability to assess game situations and deliver match-winning performances, underscoring the advantage Australia would have if Kohli were absent from the T20 World Cup roster.
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“Virat Kohli is the most clutch player I have ever played against. The innings he played against us in Mohali during the 2016 T20 World Cup is still the best innings I have ever seen played against me. His awareness of what he needs to do to win the game is just phenomenal. I hope India don’t pick him (for T20 World Cup) because it will be great to not come up against him,” expressed Glenn Maxwell during an interview with ESPN.
Glenn Maxwell also acknowledged the intense competition in Indian cricket, affirming that the pressure on Kohli is warranted given the abundance of talented players vying for national team selection. He humorously remarked about the vast talent pool in India, highlighting the challenging task of securing a spot in the national squad amidst fierce competition.
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“It’s not surprising because there are 1.5 billion (people in India) and I reckon half of them are unbelievable cricketers in this country (laughs). It’s a hard team to get into. You look at India’s top T20 players who are all playing in this tournament (IPL 2024). They are phenomenal players and there should be heat on every player,” Glenn Maxwell added.
