Former BCCI chief selector MSK Prasad has come to Virat Kohli's defense amid concerns that his T20 World Cup spot is under threat. With reports indicating that Agit Agarkar's selection committee is reconsidering Kohli's role in the T20I team, the upcoming IPL season has suddenly become a high-stakes proving ground for the RCB star. This comes after a hiatus from the shortest format following the 2022 World Cup, a break Kohli shared with Rohit Sharma, before his recent return for the Afghanistan series.
MSK Prasad, former BCCI chief selector, has spoken out in support of Virat Kohli amid rumors that his spot in India’s T20 World Cup roster is in peril. According to the reports, the BCCI selection committee led by Agit Agarkar is having second thoughts about retaining Kohli in the T20I squad, and the upcoming IPL will be crucial for the RCB star to silence his detractors. The batting maestro was called up to the T20I squad for the Afghanistan series earlier this year. He, along with Rohit Sharma, made himself unavailable for selection in T20Is following the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Prasad told IPL's official broadcasters that Kohli is a vital asset for India's World Cup ambitions and criticized the idea that his quality needs to be validated via the IPL. He clarified that Kohli's time away from the national side was driven by family obligations rather than poor form, asserting that the batter has been in great shape for a long while and will undoubtedly deliver runs this season.
Prasad also highlighted MS Dhoni's incredible loyalty to CSK, noting that at 42, his continued play demonstrates a deep commitment to the franchise. He mentioned that Dhoni's long-term stability with one team has left a lasting legacy on both the squad and the supporters, even pointing out that the legendary captain pushed through a knee injury to compete last season.
Kohli's record speaks for itself, as he is the highest run-scorer in T20 Internationals, boasting 4,037 runs across 117 matches with an impressive average of 51.75. His dominance extended to the previous IPL season, where he amassed 639 runs, featuring two centuries and six half-centuries.