'I am hoping India don't pick him' - Glenn Maxwell reveals why he does not want Virat Kohli at T20 World Cup

Ritabrata Banerjee

'I am hoping India don't pick him' - Glenn Maxwell reveals why he does not want Virat Kohli at T20 World Cup image

Virat Kohli is arguably the finest batter in world cricket as well as in India over the last two decades. He has smashed multiple records in international cricket as well as in the Indian Premier League and has been a loyal soldier of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise.

At 35, Kohli continues to mesmerise his fans across the world with his batting prowess across all formats be it white-ball or red-ball cricket.

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His future with the Indian cricket team in T20Is, however, came under scrutiny as reports emerged last month that the Indian think tank may consider the star batter in the Indian squad for the upcoming 2024 T20 World in the US and West Indies.

Kohli's strike rate in the shortest format has come under question even though he has consistently performed with the bat in the ongoing IPL 2024 season and is currently leading the race to win the Orange Cap this year.

MORE: 2024 T20 World Cup time table: Match times and schedules

What did Glenn Maxwell say about Virat Kohli.?

Speaking in ESPN's show Around the Wicket, Maxwell was quizzed about his RCB team-mate and India Virat Kohli to which the Australian said, 

Virat Kohli is the most clutch player I have ever played against. His career in T20 cricket is just amazing. The innings he played against us in Mohali in the 2016 T20 World Cup is still one of the best innings that has been played against me and it changed the face of the whole game.

He was hitting balls on a wicket that was inconsistent. His ability to change his hands, positions at the last moment, flicking almost like a Table Tennis bat and time it over the gap or into the fences. Something that is unmatched around the world. His awareness of what he needs to do to win the game is phenomenal. 

'Hope India don't pick Virat Kohli for World Cup'

The Aussie cricketer went on to joke that Kohli is the last batter he would want to play against at the upcoming T20 World Cup as he said, 

It's been great to sort of play alongside him and train with him and watch him go about it but I still have to play against him, so I am hoping India don't pick him. It will be great to not come up against him but yeah I am certainly grateful, it's been four years now that I've been a team-mate of his.

Got to see him a bit up close, talk to him about his game. We have become friends and it's just such an admiration for the way he goes about on the field and the way he is as a person.

What next for Glenn Maxwell and Virat Kohli?

The duo will be next seen in action on Thursday as RCB take on Mumbai Indians in an IPL 2024 clash in Mumbai.

Ritabrata Banerjee