T20 World Cup 2024: Virat Kohli has landed in the USA for the T20 World Cup 2024 on Friday, and the decision to play in the India vs Bangladesh warm-up match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium Stadium on Saturday (June 1) will be made by the star cricketer himself.
Virat Kohli did not travel with the rest of the India squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 as he opted for a mini-break post his IPL 2024 campaign with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
“Virat Kohli has checked in at the team hotel and after a long flight, he would be taking rest,” a senior BCCI source confirmed PTI.
Having travelled for 16 hours to reach the ‘Big Apple’, his participation in the practice match will depend on how the former India captain feels. The source added that he would play if wants to spend some time in the middle.
Notably, the venue will host India’s first match against Ireland on June 5, and the mouth-watering encounter against Pakistan on June 9. India will play against hosts USA also at the same venue on June 12.
The right-hand batter scored 741 runs in 15 matches and won the Orange Cap in IPL 2024. He doesn’t need much match practice, and he will still get three quality net sessions before the first game against Ireland on June 5.
There was an optional training session on Friday morning in which Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube and Mohammed Siraj sweated it out under the guidance of the support staff.
The team management and the BCCI have often made exceptions about Kohli linking up with the national team. He was also permitted a break before the South Africa Test series when he arrived in the ‘Rainbow Nation’ only to leave for the UK for personal reasons before rejoining the squad.
He skipped the entire England Test series at home in February-March for the birth of his second child. This time too, for the T20 World Cup, the first batch of players flew in on May 25 while the second group touched down on May 28.
Kohli has so far missed three sessions of training but if one goes by what the team management feels, they understand that the legend knows his stuff and his routines won’t be tinkered with.
