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India's batting juggernaut Virat Kohli has finally arrived in the USA to link up with the Indian team for the T20 World Cup 2024 which is set to commence from June 2. However, despite his arrival, his participation in the warm-up game against Bangladesh on June 1 is uncertain. Kohli's return to form is crucial for India's success in the T20 World Cup. As a key member of the team, his batting prowess is highly valued. He's also on the verge of a big milestone in international cricket.
Virat Kohli on brink of colossal milestone
Virat needs just 267 more runs to become the fourth batsman ever to score a staggering 27,000 runs across all formats of international cricket. Having made his debut in 2008, he's already amassed a phenomenal amount of runs - 8848 in Tests, 13848 in ODIs, and 4037 in T20Is. With India guaranteed to play at least four matches in the T20 World Cup, and potentially more if they progress to the later stages, reaching the 27,000-run mark is a very real possibility for Kohli.
The race for the most runs in international cricket is a prestigious one, and Sachin Tendulkar remains the undisputed king of the mountain. He retired with a staggering 34,357 runs in 664 matches, the only batsman to ever cross the 30,000-run mark. Following Sachin is the legendary Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara, who amassed a remarkable 28,016 runs in 594 matches. Australian great Ricky Ponting takes the third spot with 27,483 runs across 560 matches, with Virat Kohli hot on his heels at number four. Virat, known for his incredible consistency, currently boasts the highest average (54.11) among these top five batsmen.
Rounding out the top five is Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene, who finished his career with a very respectable 25,957 runs in 652 matches. Interestingly, with his current form and fitness, Virat has the potential to surpass even the 30,000-run mark if he continues playing for another 4-5 years. This would be a truly phenomenal feat, solidifying his place among the greatest batsmen of all time.
The Men in Blue will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign on June 5 against Ireland. Here's a breakdown of their upcoming group stage matches:
June 5th: India vs Ireland
June 9th: India vs Pakistan
June 12th: India vs USA
June 15th: India vs Canada
Both India and Pakistan are considered frontrunners to emerge from Group A and advance to the Super 8 stage. Notably, if India qualify for the Super 8, they'll be placed in the second semi-final, regardless of their final position within the group. The semi-finals are scheduled for June 26 and 27, with the heart-stopping final set for June 29 in Barbados.
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