T20 World Cup: Why Dale Steyn wants Virat Kohli to score big in IPL 2024?

Virat Kohli. Photo: Spoirtzpics

Amid rumors surrounding Virat Kohli’s place in the Indian T20 World Cup squad, former South African pacer Dale Steyn on Friday, March 15, said that Virat Kohli should score big in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Royal Challengers Bangalore ( RCB) ensure he enters the coveted tournament with confidence in his place in the squad.

“Extremely important for Kohli to score big this season,” Steyn said at a press conference ahead of the announcement of Star Sports’ commentary panel for the IPL 2024.

“Some players have surpassed Kohli since he has played cricket since January and when you take a team to the World Cup you want the players who have already scored runs in a major tournament,” Steyn highlights why Kohli’s place would be in jeopardy if he scores not high in the IPL.

Meanwhile, former India pacer Irfan Pathan said that Kohli is expected to improve on his 2016 IPL performance this season.

“Kohli would be hungry to score runs as he has been out of action for the past few months,” Pathan added.

Kohli, 35, did not take part in the India vs England 5-match Test series due to personal reasons but is touted to play in the IPL.

However, rumors are circulating on social media that BCCI is putting pressure on the senior men’s selection committee and the team management to pick players purely on the winnability factor instead of looking at what they have done in the past.

What did Virat Kohli do for India in the T20 World Cups?

Kohli, who has 1141 runs in 27 matches, is the highest run scorer in the history of T20 World Cups. He was India’s top scorer in the 2014, 2016 and 2022 T20 World Cups. Therefore, it could be difficult for the selectors to remove him from the T20 line-up altogether while Rohit Sharma continues to play.

RCB will play the opening match of the IPL 2024 against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on March 22.

Virat Kohli statistics in Indian Premier League history

Virat Kohli batting and fielding statistics
YEAR MAT NO RENT HS GDPR B.F SR 100 50 4S 6S C.T ST

Career

237

34

7263

113

37.25

5586

130.02

7

50

643

234

107

0

2023

14

2

639

101*

53.25

457

139.82

2

6

65

16

13

0

2022

16

1

341

73

22.73

294

115.99

0

2

32

8

9

0

2021

15

1

405

72*

28.92

339

119.46

0

3

43

9

8

0

2020

15

4

466

90*

42.36

384

121.35

0

3

23

11

3

0

2019

14

0

464

100

33.14

328

141.46

1

2

46

13

5

0

2018

14

3

530

92*

48.18

381

139.1

0

4

52

18

8

0

2017

10

0

308

64

30.8

252

122.22

0

4

23

11

6

0

2016

16

4

973

113

81.08

640

152.03

4

7

83

38

6

0

2015

16

5

505

82*

45.9

386

130.82

0

3

35

23

7

0

2014

14

1

359

73

27.61

294

122.1

0

2

23

16

7

0

2013

16

2

634

99

45.28

457

138.73

0

6

64

22

7

0

2012

16

2

364

73*

28

326

111.65

0

2

33

9

7

0

2011

16

4

557

71

46.41

460

121.08

0

4

55

16

7

0

2010

16

2

307

58

27.9

212

144.81

0

1

26

12

3

0

2009

16

2

246

50

22.36

219

112.32

0

1

22

8

9

0

2008

13

1

165

38

15

157

105.09

0

0

18

4

2

0

First print: March 15, 2024 | 4:04 PM IST