Former Indian batter Suresh Raina feels Virat Kohli will be very important for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Kohli made a return to T20I format after a long gap of 14 months in the second T20I against Afghanistan at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore on Sunday.

The talisman played with an aggressive approach while batting at three, scoring a quickfire 16-ball 29 with the help of five fours in the run-chase of 173.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli finished the ODI World Cup 2023 as the highest run-getter with 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62 and a strike rate of 90.32. Ergo, he was awarded Player of the tournament for his consistent performances and played a key role in taking India to the final of the competition.

Kohli has all the experience under his belt and he is going to hold the key while batting in the top order.

“He will be very important (to India’s World Cup plans). The biggest question now will be whether Virat Kohli would be willing to play at No. 3? Rohit Sharma wants him to play No. 3 for India, will he follow the template (in the IPL?). He is trying to improve his strike rate. But I feel it’s the job of the players around him. If I am the captain, I’d tell him to do the anchor’s role because he is the kind of player who can hit boundaries and sixes any time he wants,” said Raina on Sports 18.

Raina feels the pitches are going to be tricky in the T20 World Cup and thus Kohli’s experience will be invaluable for the team’s success.

“I think in this World Cup, we need Virat Kohli to stay in the middle for long. That is more important than his strike rate. We all saw he scored 765 runs in the ODI World Cup. We need him for those pitches. The pitches are not going to be easy, it would be a little tricky with mystery spinners. You might have to find ways to get twos and quick singles if you are not able to get boundaries. One of the top 3 needs to play through 20 overs,” Raina added.

The third and last T20I of the series between India and Afghanistan will be played at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Wednesday.