Virat Kohli is expected to miss India’s only warm-up match before the T20 World Cup 2024. This game against Bangladesh is scheduled for June 1 in New York. Kohli has decided to take a short break after his team, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), was eliminated from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
RCB’s season ended when they lost to Rajasthan Royals in the playoff stage. Kohli has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he will join the team a bit later than planned.
During the IPL 2024, he performed exceptionally well, scoring 741 runs in 15 matches with an average of 61.75. His efforts were crucial in getting RCB to the playoffs. A BCCI official mentioned that Kohli will travel to New York in the early hours of May 30.
“Kohli had informed us way beforehand that he will be joining the team late and that is why the BCCI has kept his visa appointment for a later date. He is expected to fly out to New York in the early morning of May 30th. The BCCI has agreed to his request,” a BCCI official told The Indian Express.
Apart from Virat Kohli, wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson and all-rounder Hardik Pandya will also join the Indian team late for the T20 World Cup 2024 preparations.
Samson and Pandya Granted Permission to Join the Team Late, The First Batch of Indian Players Departed for USA
Samson, who led Rajasthan Royals (RR) to Qualifier 2 in the IPL, has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he has personal matters to attend to in Dubai. Both Samson and Pandya have received permission from the BCCI to delay their departure. The first group of Indian players left for the USA on Saturday, with another group scheduled to leave on Monday. Among those who departed on Saturday night from Mumbai are captain Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah.
Along with them are Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and the support staff. India will kick off their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign on June 5 with a match against Ireland in New York. The eagerly awaited match between India and Pakistan is scheduled to take place at the same venue on June 9.
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