Indian cricket fans were eagerly awaiting the start of the T20 World Cup, but news has emerged that Virat Kohli, one of the team's star players, will miss the warm-up match against Bangladesh on June 1st. The reason? Visa delays.
Kohli, along with Sanju Samson and vice-captain Hardik Pandya, will join the team late, with their arrival scheduled for May 30th. This means they will not be part of the playing XI against Bangladesh, a team that recently lost a three-match series against the USA.
According to reports, Kohli had requested permission from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to join the squad late, and the board agreed. Samson and Pandya were also not part of the first contingent of Indian players who traveled to the USA on Saturday night.
The rest of the Indian team, including captain Rohit Sharma, pacer Jasprit Bumrah, and explosive batter Suryakumar Yadav, departed for the USA on May 25th.
The first contingent of the squad also features wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, mystery spinner Kuldeep Yadav, all-rounder Shivam Dube, Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, and young batting sensation Shubman Gill.
While the BCCI has not disclosed the specific reasons for the delayed arrivals, it is understood that such requests are typically granted for personal reasons.
India's T20 World Cup campaign kicks off against Ireland on June 5th at the Nassau County Stadium in New York, followed by matches against Pakistan, USA, and Canada in the group stage.
Kohli's delayed departure is due to pending paperwork, according to a BCCI official. He is expected to depart for New York in the early hours of May 30th, as his visa appointment has been scheduled accordingly.
Samson and Pandya will also join the team belatedly, with Pandya traveling from London and Samson citing personal work in Dubai as the reason for his delayed departure.
