Virat Kohli to miss India's ICC T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up game against Bangladesh - Reports

Virat Kohli didn’t travel with first batch of Indian players to depart for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

The first batch of the Indian cricket team has already left for the United States of America on May 25 ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which begins on June 1. The Men in Blue are all set to play a warm-up fixture against Bangladesh on June 1 ahead of the upcoming global event.

Captain Rohit Sharma along with head coach Rahul Dravid, batting coach Vikram Rathour, and a few other members, departed from Mumbai late in the evening on Saturday. Star batter Virat Kohli, who was expected to travel with the first batch of players and support staff, didn’t travel with the group.

Earlier, it was told that in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, players whose respective teams have taken early exits, will leave for the USA on May 25.

Then, it was later reported that players whose franchises have taken early exit in the IPL 2024 will also travel with the first batch ahead of the ICC tournament. This means that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) veteran players Kohli and Mohammed Siraj were slated to join the first batch of the Indian team.

However, speedster Siraj joined the group, which was accompanied by Rohit and other members, but Kohli was not seen with the group, which raised questions about his availability as the Men in Blue are all set to take on Bangladesh in their only warm-up fixture on June 1.

Virat Kohli is expected to reach New York on May 30

According to a latest report in The Indian Express, the 35-year-old Kohli has extended his period of break after Bengaluru’s heartbreaking exit from the IPL 2024 playoffs, and hence the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has extended his mini-break. The report further added that the BCCI has kept Kohli’s visa appointment for a later date.

“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 newspaper.

How did Virat Kohli perform in the IPL 2024?

The former RCB skipper Kohli had a phenomenal run in the IPL 2024 with the bat. The modern-day Chase Master played 15 games and smashed 741 runs at an outstanding average of 61.75, which includes five half-centuries and one hundred. Kohli currently holds the Orange Cap.

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