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The ninth edition of the T20 World Cup is just some hours away from start and ahead of the marquee tournament, former Indian skipper and batting stalwart Virat Kohli too has joined Team India in New York. However, the first batch of the Indian cricketers departed for New York on May 25, followed by the second batch which flew on May 26, after the conclusion of the IPL 2024, but Virat Kohli was one of the key absentees.
The 35-year-old had written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), requesting them for a short break to spend some quality time with his family. But finally, the star batter landed in New York on Friday, May 31, just a day prior to the warm-up match against Bangladesh. With all the members of the Indian team now in New York, there looms uncertainty over Virat Kohli’s participation in the warm-up match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
A close source of the BCCI also opened up Virat Kohli joining the side in New York, however he did not clarify whether the batter will feature in the solitary warm-up match. “Virat Kohli has checked in at the team hotel, and after a long flight, he will be taking a rest,” a BCCI official was quoted by Hindustan Times.
The Rohit Sharma-led Team India are placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, Ireland, co-hosts USA and Canada in the T20 World Cup 2024. The inaugural champions of the T20 World Cup will begin their title defense on June 5 when they take on Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. However, the much-awaited India versus Pakistan is scheduled for June 9 at the same venue.
