‘Can’t be true’: Broad shocked over Kohli’s potential T20 WC exclusion

NEW DELHI: After a report emerged that Virat Kohli could be dropped from India’s T20 World Cup squad, former England pacer Stuart Broad expressed his surprise on the news saying he believes that the star batter would indeed be chosen for the event.
“This can’t be true. Just from a fans point of view of growing the game, the ICC putting games on in America, India Vs Pakistan in New York, Virat is the biggest draw of any player in the world, I’m sure he will be selected,” Broad posted on X.

Set to be jointly hosted by the West Indies and the USA, the T20 World Cup will be held from June 2 to 29.
The Indian team will be led by Rohit Sharma, as confirmed by the BCCI secretary Jay Shah earlier this month. However, the inclusion of Kohli for the tournament is not certain, according to a report published in ‘The Telegraph’.
The absence of an ICC trophy for India since the 2013 Champions Trophy may compel the selectors to make some challenging decisions, potentially including the omission of former captain Kohli.
The report states that the selectors believe Kohli hasn’t been at his best in the T20 format, but that thought may demand a rethink if Kohli comes out all guns blazing this IPL season.
The batting icon had taken a break from the five-Test series against England to welcome the arrival of his second child.
The report quotes a source as saying that it “”remains a very delicate matter and not many (in the BCCI) are willing to get involved”, leaving the final decision to the board’s selection committee led by former India pacer Ajit Agarkar.
Agarkar, says the report, has already had a word with Kohli, revolving around the need for him to make some alteration to meet the demands of the team and the format.