Cricket champion Steve Smith opines Virat Kohli’s inclusion in June’s T20 World Cup hosted by West Indies and USA is guaranteed. The Aussie batting maestro dismisses uncertainty about the Indian veteran’s participation. He voices confidence in Kohli’s pivotal role for the prestigious tournament.
According to some recent rumors, Kohli’s position in the T20 World Cup has not yet been assured due to his strike rate. Steve Smith, on the other hand, feels that the renowned Indian hitter plays to the circumstances and has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to win games.
In an interview with Star Sports, Steve Smith said this about Virat Kohli:
“He plays the situation. Some wickets you play on, your strike rate doesn’t need to be high. We’ve seen Virat play some masterclass innings and get his team over the line, whether it is for RCB or for India. I’ve been in the opposition and he has done it against us on numerous occasions.”
Steve Smith
Virat Kohli’s 82* against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022 remains one of the most memorable efforts in T20Is, considering how he flipped the game on its head. That innings exemplifies Smith’s point about Kohli’s adaptability.
Steve Smith Highlights Virat Kohli’s Affinity for Performing Under Pressure
Steve Smith believes India will search for players in their T20 World Cup team who can perform on the big stage. He believes Virat Kohli’s experience delivering at major ICC events is something the Men in Blue cannot afford to lose. On this, Smith stated:
“He (Kohli) plays extremely well under pressure. He loves that. It is such players that you want in your team when you go to 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.”
Steve Smith
Earlier this year, Virat Kohli returned to the Twenty20 format against Afghanistan. Despite missing almost two months of action for personal reasons, the standout player for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will be eager to score huge runs in the 2024 Indian Premier League.