Virat Kohli scored a record eighth century for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their previous Indian Premier League match against the 2008 champions Rajasthan Royals. In Bengaluru’s first five games of the current season, the former RCB captain has been the only warrior with the willow. Kohli’s equal career-best innings of 113* against Rajasthan gives him two more century than second-placed hitters Chris Gayle and Jos Buttler (6).
Kohli finished unbeaten on 113 from 72 balls to help RCB reach 183-3 in 20 overs. In the same match, 2022 Orange Cap winner Jos Buttler smashed a 58-ball century to secure RR’s six-wicket victory in 19.1 overs. Kohli scored his century in 67 balls, making it the joint-slowest tonne in IPL history. Manish Pandey got a century in 67 balls against the Deccan Chargers in the 2009 IPL.
Kohli’s strike rate has come under scrutiny by his critics during the T20 World Cup year. However, there is no disputing that the former India captain is taking risks and playing aggressive cricket in the world’s most lucrative T20 event, the IPL. Even famous West Indies cricketer Brian Lara supported Kohli’s candidature and named him one of the top three batters for the T20 World Cup.
No way Virat Kohli will be left out.
According to Cricbuzz, Kohli is poised to maintain his place in the Indian T20 squad for the ICC event later this year. Even though Kohli’s strike rate was questioned in the IPL 2024, the report stated that he will not be left off of the World Cup squad. As an RCB opener, Kohli batted at a strike rate of 146.29 during the first five IPL games. The 35-year-old is the leading run scorer in the IPL 2024.
With Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal as openers, it will be intriguing to see how selectors incorporate Shubman Gill into the batting lineup if Kohli secures his No. 3 spot in the World Cup squad. According to the report, Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant is also leading the selection process for the vacant wicketkeeper post at the T20 World Cup. Pant has an advantage over wicketkeeper-batters Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Jitesh Sharma, and KL Rahul in the IPL 2024.
Pant has scored 153 runs in five IPL 2024 games for the Delhi Capitals. Pant has scored 18, 28, 51, 55, and 1 for the Delhi Capitals. “Let’s have a few more matches. As you’ve probably noticed, he’s doing an excellent job of batting. So he’s held up well, and his form has been excellent, particularly his batting in the last two games. So give it another week, and I’ll be able to answer that question, assuming the selectors choose to pick him. So that is the most crucial. Ganguly, the former head of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said, “Yes, he is fully fit.”
The BCCI selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, is expected to announce India’s T20 World Cup squad in the first week of May.
