T20 World Cup 2024: Virat Kohli likely to miss India's only warm-up match against Bangladesh

Virat Kohli is likely to miss India's only warm-up match ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, as he has taken a mini-break following Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) elimination from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. India face Bangladesh in the warm-up tie in New York on June 1.

The talismanic batter informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he is willing to join the team late. Kohli had a scintillating IPL 2024 as he slammed 741 runs from 15 matches at an average of 61.75. He helped RCB reach the playoffs, where they lost to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Eliminator. According to a BCCI official, the Delhi batter will be headed to New York in the early hours of May 30.

“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 Indian Express.

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Apart from Kohli, wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson and all-rounder Hardik Pandya will also join the team late. Samson, who led RR to Qualifier 2, has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that the reason for delaying his departure is ‘personal work in Dubai’. The BCCI has allowed Samson and Pandya to join late.

The first batch of Indian players departed for the USA on Saturday. Meanwhile, another batch is set to leave on Monday. India captain Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant and the support staff left Mumbai on Saturday night.

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The Men in Blue will start their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign on June 5, as they take on Ireland in New York. The highly-anticipated India versus Pakistan clash is scheduled for June 9 at the same venue.