"I hope India don't pick him": Glenn Maxwell's quip raises doubts over Virat Kohli's T20 World Cup selection

Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) icon, has set a new record in the ongoing IPL season with his eighth century, surpassing previous milestones. However, this remarkable feat hasn't silenced critics, who continue to raise doubts about his selection for the T20 World Cup scheduled for June this year.

Kohli currently leads the IPL 2024 run-scoring charts with 316 runs in five matches. Yet, his strike rate of 146.30, including the joint slowest IPL century ever off 67 balls, has kept the debate alive.

Adding a lighter touch to the discussion, Kohli's RCB teammate Glenn Maxwell humorously remarked, "I hope India don't pick him."


Maxwell recalled Kohli's exceptional half-century against Australia in the 2016 T20 World Cup, calling it the best innings he's ever seen played against him. Maxwell praised Kohli's clutch performances, saying, "His awareness of what he needs to do to win the game is just phenomenal."


Addressing the selection controversy, Maxwell expressed understanding, stating, "It's not surprising because there are 1.5 billion (people in India) and I reckon half of them are unbelievable cricketers in this country (laughs)."

He emphasized the competitive nature of Indian cricket and the exceptional talent of its players, noting the pressure on every player to perform.

Kohli's T20 international career includes 117 matches for India, where he has scored 4037 runs at a strike rate of 138.16, including one hundred and 37 fifties. Despite his impressive records, the ongoing debate surrounding his T20 World Cup selection reflects the scrutiny and high expectations placed on him as a cricketing legend.

(With inputs from TOI)