Cricket

Virat Kohli, India's star batter, is the only member of the T20 World Cup squad yet to arrive in the United States. While the other 18 players, including four reserves, commenced training in New York on Wednesday, Kohli's arrival remains uncertain.Kohli's absence stems from a request for an extended break following the grueling Indian Premier League (IPL) season. He was last seen in Mumbai with his wife, Anushka Sharma, and former India cricketer Zaheer Khan.According to ESPNCricinfo, there has been no official update from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding Kohli's travel status. However, Press Trust of India (PTI) reports that Kohli is expected to reach New York on Friday.Kohli's availability for India's sole warm-up match against Bangladesh on Sunday, June 1, is in doubt due to the long flight. PTI notes that it is unclear whether he will be able to participate in the match after a lengthy journey.Kohli enjoyed a stellar IPL season, winning the Orange Cap for the second time with 741 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 154.70. India's T20 World Cup campaign begins on June 5 against Ireland in New York, followed by a highly anticipated clash with Pakistan on June 9. They will then face hosts USA on June 12 before moving to Lauderhill, Florida, for a game against Canada on June 15.

Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir's Reconciliation: A Heartwarming Moment in IPL 2024The 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) witnessed a heartwarming moment between former teammates Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. The alleged hostility between the two seemed to dissolve as they shared a warm embrace, demonstrating mutual respect and camaraderie.Kohli, the face of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Gambhir, mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders, put their past differences aside. Gambhir's return to KKR as a mentor proved to be a masterstroke, guiding Shreyas Iyer's team to their third IPL title. KKR dominated the final, thrashing Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai, ending their 10-year title drought.Addressing the perceived rift with Kohli, Gambhir stated, "The perception is far away from the reality. My relation with Virat Kohli is something this country doesn't need to know. He has as much right as I do to express himself and help our respective teams win. Our relation is not to give masala to the public."Gambhir also praised Kohli's six-hitting prowess, acknowledging the RCB batter's batting excellence. Kohli had a stellar IPL 2024 season, topping the batting charts with 741 runs in 15 games and winning the prestigious Orange Cap.Kohli reflected on the moment with Gambhir during an event, saying, "People are very disappointed with my behaviour. I hugged Naveen, and then the other day, Gauti bhai (Gautam Gambhir) came and hugged me. Your masala is over so you're booing. We're not kids anymore."The reconciliation between Kohli and Gambhir is a testament to the power of sportsmanship and the ability to move beyond past conflicts. It serves as a reminder that even in the competitive world of cricket, respect and camaraderie can prevail.

Former New Zealand fast bowler and commentator Simon Doull has revealed the backlash he has faced for criticizing Virat Kohli's strike rate. Despite praising Kohli's skills and achievements, Doull's comments on the Indian batsman's need to improve his strike rate have drawn negative reactions from passionate fans.Doull believes that Kohli, a phenomenal player, should be dominating more than he has been. He points to Kohli's strike rate as an area for improvement, suggesting that the former RCB captain is afraid to get out and is worried about what is behind him rather than focusing on his own abilities.Doull has also made similar comments about Pakistan's Babar Azam, who has since acknowledged that his coaches have expressed the same concerns. However, Doull emphasizes that his main point has always been that Kohli shouldn't have to worry about getting out, as he is too good for that.Despite his positive comments about Kohli, Doull's criticism of his strike rate has led to death threats. He expresses disappointment that his constructive criticism has been met with such hostility.Doull believes that with the introduction of the impact substitute rule in the IPL, a strike rate of 130-135 is no longer sufficient. Kohli's impressive performance in the IPL 2024, where he finished as the highest run-getter with a strike rate of 154.69, demonstrates that he has taken Doull's criticism to heart.

Virat Kohli, the former Indian skipper and one of the most prolific batsmen in the world, is gearing up for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup. In a recent interview, Kohli shared his thoughts on his journey leading up to the tournament and reflected on his emotions prior to his World Cup debut against Bangladesh in 2011.Kohli's debut performance was nothing short of spectacular. He formed a formidable 203-run partnership with Virender Sehwag, becoming the first and only Indian player to achieve a century in their World Cup debut match. His unbeaten 100 runs off 83 deliveries propelled Team India to a total of 370, ultimately securing an impressive 87-run victory."It was against Bangladesh in Dhaka, my first game and I was nervous. Yes, I will not lie. There is a different sense of excitement in the air when you come for a World Cup and I could obviously sense that. I was the youngest member of that team and I was getting to play with all these greats of Indian cricket in a World Cup game," Kohli said on Star Sports."For me it was definitely a moment where I was a bit nervous heading into the game and definitely the night before I was quite nervous but that is a good sign as well because your body is preparing you to enter a situation where you're alert, you're not taking things for granted. I think that nervousness helped me to be aware, be alert and be absolutely precise in the execution of my plans," he added.Kohli has been one of the best batsmen in all formats but his T20 World Cup exploits are second to none. He is the leading run scorer in the history of the tournament having scored 1141 runs in 25 innings taking his average to be an unbelievable 81.50.India will face Bangladesh in a warm-up game on June 1 as a part of their preparation in the T20 World Cup set to be held in the USA and West Indies.

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have learned from their mistakes in the T20 World Cup 2022 semifinal against England and will not repeat them in the upcoming edition of the tournament.In his column for Hindustan Times, Manjrekar pointed out that India's slow batting in the top order, particularly by Kohli and Sharma, contributed to their defeat in the semifinal. However, he believes that both players have evolved as T20 batters since then and will be more aggressive in the 2024 World Cup."In the last T20 World Cup two years ago, in the semis against England in Adelaide, India batted first and got only 168 runs in 20 overs, and a shocking 62 in the first 10. The bulk of deliveries in this crucial period were faced by the seniors, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli," Manjrekar wrote."Rohit got 27 off 28 balls at a strike rate of 96, while Virat secured 50 off 40 balls at a strike rate of 125, eventually getting out in the 18th over. India had lost the tournament right there."Manjrekar praised Hardik Pandya for his aggressive batting in that match, but noted that England chased down the target with ease. He believes that Kohli and Sharma will not make the same mistake of batting too slowly in the upcoming World Cup."Having said this, we can be sure of one thing. Rohit and Virat will not commit the same mistakes made in that semis," Manjrekar wrote. "It's worth acknowledging that Virat is not the same T20 player he was two years ago. He must know deep down, surely, that the 'outside noise' has actually made him a better T20 batter today than he was two years ago."Manjrekar also expressed hope that Kohli will not be preoccupied with batting longer rather than batting quicker in the knockout stages of the World Cup."For Indian cricket's sake, let's hope this preoccupation is buried deep," he concluded.

India's Ideal T20 World Cup Batting Order: Wasim Jaffer's Expert OpinionFormer Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has proposed an intriguing batting order for the Indian team in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Jaffer believes that Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal should open the innings, followed by Rohit Sharma at number three and Suryakumar Yadav at number four.Jaffer's reasoning for this order is based on the strengths of each player. Kohli, a seasoned campaigner, is known for his consistency and ability to anchor the innings. Jaiswal, a rising star, has impressed with his aggressive batting style and could provide a solid start.Rohit Sharma, the current Indian captain, is a versatile batsman who can adapt to any position. Jaffer believes that Rohit's ability to play spin well makes him an ideal candidate for the number four spot. Suryakumar Yadav, the current ICC T20I Player of the Year, is a dynamic batsman who can accelerate the scoring rate in the middle overs.Jaffer's proposed batting order aims to balance experience and aggression. Kohli and Rohit provide stability, while Jaiswal and Yadav bring the X-factor. This combination could give India a formidable batting lineup capable of challenging any opposition.India's T20 World Cup campaign will begin on June 5 against Ireland. They will face their arch-rivals Pakistan on June 9 and will be determined to end their ICC trophy drought. With a strong batting lineup and a talented squad, India will be among the favorites to lift the trophy in the West Indies and the USA.

Virat Kohli's Resurgence: Fueled by Criticism, RCB's Orange Cap WinnerThe Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) endured a dismal start to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, losing seven of their first eight matches. Amidst the team's struggles, Virat Kohli emerged as a beacon of consistency, scoring runs at a steady pace. However, his strike rate and intent came under scrutiny from critics.Undeterred by the criticism, Kohli transformed his game in the second half of the season. He not only improved his strike rate but also played with a renewed sense of purpose. Dinesh Karthik, RCB's wicketkeeper-batter, attributed Kohli's resurgence to the criticism he faced."Experts" spurred Kohli on by targeting him, Karthik said. "And you don't want to see that side of Virat Kohli. He thrives on that. He's someone who inadvertently wants to hold on to certain things to do well."Kohli's determination to prove his detractors wrong was evident throughout the season. He finished as the Orange Cap winner with 741 runs in 15 innings, averaging 61.75 and striking at 154.69.Thanks to Kohli's resurgence, RCB recorded six consecutive wins to qualify for the playoffs. However, their campaign ended in the Eliminator against the Rajasthan Royals.Karthik believes Kohli's ability to channel criticism into motivation is a testament to his competitive spirit. "He loves proving people wrong," Karthik said. "He's fiery and you don't want to be anywhere close to it because you're going to get burnt for sure."Kohli's performance in IPL 2024 is a reminder of his unwavering determination and ability to overcome adversity. Fueled by criticism, he emerged as a force to be reckoned with, leading RCB to a remarkable turnaround in the second half of the season.

As the T20 World Cup approaches, the spotlight falls on India's star duo, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are likely making their final appearance in the tournament. With India's last major title triumph dating back to the 2013 Champions Trophy, the pressure is mounting on these veterans to deliver.Rohit, 37, and Kohli, 35, have been the backbone of India's batting lineup for over a decade. Rohit, known as "Hitman" for his aggressive style, has been a prolific run-scorer in all formats. Kohli, on the other hand, is renowned for his consistency and ability to anchor the innings.Despite their individual brilliance, India has fallen short in recent major tournaments. They lost the final of the 2021 ODI World Cup at home to Australia and failed to progress beyond the group stage of the 2022 Asia Cup.Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif believes this T20 World Cup is the last chance for Rohit and Kohli to win a global title. "They lost the World Cup final in Ahmedabad. They played as if they had the cup snatched away from them. Hearts were broken and fans were devastated," Kaif said.The veterans will be looking to combine their experience and form to guide India to glory. Kohli had a stellar IPL season, topping the batting charts with 741 runs. Former India batsman Ajay Jadeja believes Kohli should open the batting for India at the World Cup.Rohit, on the other hand, had a mixed IPL season, but he remains a dangerous batsman capable of changing the course of a match. Both Rohit and Kohli have been part of India's past World Cup triumphs, with Rohit winning the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 and Kohli playing a key role in the 2011 ODI World Cup victory.India faces a relatively easy group stage in this year's T20 World Cup, with matches against Pakistan, Canada, the United States, and Ireland. However, the knockout matches will be a true test of their mettle.As India's hopes rest on the shoulders of Rohit and Kohli, the nation will be eagerly watching to see if the star duo can end their global title drought and bring home the coveted trophy.

The upcoming T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA and West Indies, promises to be a spectacle of batting brilliance and record-breaking performances. The tournament's expanded format, with 20 teams competing, provides ample opportunities for batsmen to showcase their prowess.Most Fours in a T20 World CupSri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene currently holds the record for most fours in the T20 World Cup, with 111. However, India's Virat Kohli is poised to surpass this mark, needing just nine more boundaries. Rohit Sharma and David Warner are also in contention for the top spot, with 91 and 86 fours respectively.Most Runs in a Single EditionWith teams playing up to nine matches in this edition, the record for most runs scored in a single T20 World Cup is under threat. Virat Kohli currently holds the record with 319 runs in the 2014 edition. The expanded format provides batsmen with more opportunities to accumulate runs and challenge this milestone.Australia's Historic SweepUnder the leadership of Pat Cummins, Australia are the reigning Test and ODI champions. If they can capture the T20 World Cup as well, they will become the first team to hold ICC trophies across all formats simultaneously. Australia also holds the U-19 Men's World Cup and the Women's T20 and ODI World Cup titles.Most Catches by a FielderAB de Villiers' record of 23 catches in T20 World Cups could be eclipsed in this edition. Martin Guptill, David Warner, Rohit Sharma, and Glenn Maxwell are all within striking distance of the top spot.ConclusionThe T20 World Cup 2024 promises to be a thrilling tournament, with the potential for numerous records to be broken. The expanded format, talented batsmen, and competitive teams will create an environment conducive to exceptional performances.