Steve Smith gives his verdict on Virat Kohli's T20 World Cup selection, says 'I've been on the opposition...'

Batting juggernaut Virat Kohli's selection in the upcoming T20 World Cup's squad has become a hot topic for quite a time now. A recent report from The Telegraph cast doubt on his Kohli's selection, suggesting his place hinges on performances in the upcoming Indian Premier League season. This news comes after Kohli's absence from T20Is since the 2022 World Cup. While he did return for the three-match series against Afghanistan in January, his place in the squad remains uncertain. Notably, Rohit Sharma also took a lengthy break from the format after the 2022 World Cup.

However, amidst the talks around his T20 World Cup 2024 fate, Australia's batting maestro Steve Smith believes India need a player of Kohli's experience and skill for the high-pressure situations at the marquee event. The T20 World Cup will be held in the USA and the West Indies and is slated to start from June 2 and all eyes will be on Kohli's performance in the IPL as he seeks to secure his spot in India's squad.

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Steve Smith confident of Kohli's selection in T20 World Cup

“He plays the situation. Some wickets you play on, your strike rate doesn't need to be high. You play according to what's in front of you. We have seen Virat play some masterclass innings and get his team over the line, whether it has been RCB or India. I've been on the opposition in the Australian team when he has done this against us on numerous occasions,” Smith told Star Sports.

 

“What we know is that he plays extremely well under pressure. He loves that. It's those players who you want in your team when you go into the World Cup and face pressure situations. You want the experienced players who stand up in those situations, and Virat is certainly one of those,” Smith further stated.

 

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Kohli's scorching form in IPL 2023

Kohli's form in the upcoming IPL 2024 will be crucial for his selection in India's T20 World Cup squad. In IPL 2023, he was a force to be reckoned with, amassing the fourth-highest run tally – an impressive 639 runs in just 14 matches. His strike rate during the tournament was equally impressive, clocking in at 139.82.  This dominant performance included a staggering two centuries and six well-constructed fifties. The 35-year-old batting legend has been on a break since the T20I series against Afghanistan. He recently took a leave of absence from the Test series against England to be with his wife Anushka Sharma as they welcomed their newborn son, Akaay, in March.  However, fans were happy to see Kohli rejoin the Royal Challengers Bangalore training camp last week.  He even participated in the franchise's UnBox Event held at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 19, further fueling speculation about his return to form and potential inclusion in the World Cup squad.

 

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