Reports: BCCI to discuss T20I future with Virat Kohli soon, Ishan Kishan likely to replace him in T20 WC 2024

With the T20 World Cup 2024 just six months away, the preparations are on in the Indian camp for the mega event as they’re desperate to end their ten-year-long ICC Trophy drought. Ahead of the T20 extravaganza, there are widespread discussions around the future of batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the T20I side.

According to reports, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) wants Rohit Sharma to lead the side in the World Cup. However, the same is not the case for Kohli as he’s not the preferred No 3 batter for India in T20Is anymore. Notably, both Kohli and Rohit haven’t played a single T20I since India’s humiliating ten-wicket loss against England in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022.

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According to a report in Dainik Jagran, the selectors and the board want a player who can attack the opposition right from the word go at number 3. Hence, they’re looking at the wicketkeeper batter Ishan Kishan to fulfil that role in the team during the World Cup.

The southpaw has played 32 T20Is so far and scored 796 runs at an average of 25.67 and a strike rate of 124.37 with six half-centuries to his name. Kishan was also a part of India’s 2021 T20 World Cup squad where he played just one game against New Zealand and scored four runs.

The report further states that Kohli will be considered for selection if he has a good season in the IPL 2024. The selectors and other senior members of the board will also have a discussion with the 35-year-old on his T20I future soon. The former India captain has opted out of the white-ball series vs South Africa comprising three T20Is and as many ODIs along with Rohit Sharma.

Virat Kohli is leading run scorer in T20Is and T20 World Cup

Notably, India will play just one more T20I series ahead of the T20 World Cup against Afghanistan from January 11 comprising three matches. It will be interesting to see whether Kohli gets a call-up for that series. The Delhi-born batter is the leading run-scorer in both T20Is (4008 runs) and the T20 World Cup (1141) and has also won Player of the Tournament in consecutive editions of the tournament (2014 and 2016).

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Hence, it will be tough for the selectors to drop Kohli for the upcoming World Cup and the decision is likely to send shockwaves in the Indian cricketing fraternity.