Star Indian batter Virat Kohli had a memorable send-off before leaving for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA. The 35-year-old met United States Consulate General Mike Hankey in Mumbai, where they exchanged pleasantries and well-wishes before Kohli’s departure for the marquee event.
During their warm conversation, Consulate General Hankey presented Kohli with a cap and was also seen holding a bat, symbolizing the shared excitement for the sport.
The U.S. Consulate in Mumbai captured the moment in a social media post, writing, “Let cricket fever take over! CG Hankey wishes cricketing legend Virat Kohli good luck as he heads off to the United States for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. We can’t wait to watch Team India and Team USA in action.”
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Virat Kohli’s timing for joining the Indian squad in the USA raised some questions about his participation in the team’s warm-up match against Bangladesh on June 01.
Let cricket fever take over 🏏#CGHankey wishes cricketing legend @imVKohli good luck as he heads off to the United States for the @ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. We can’t wait to watch Team India and Team USA in action!#PlayWithUS #T20WorldCup #ViratKohli #SportsDiplomacy… pic.twitter.com/ohHtDe7hI7
— U.S. Consulate Mumbai (@USAndMumbai) May 31, 2024
Despite these concerns, Kohli took a late-night flight to New York and is set to join the squad soon. His recent form in the IPL 2024, where he topped the scoring charts with 741 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), highlights his critical role in the team’s campaign.
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The Men in Blue will kick off their World Cup journey against Ireland on June 05 in New York, followed by a highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 09. Kohli’s performance will be pivotal in these crucial matches as India aims to secure their second T20 World Cup title. His presence and form could be the driving force behind India’s quest for glory on the world stage.
India squad for T20 World Cup 2024:
Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
