Virat Kohli will be looking for a magical finish to his leadership of India’s Twenty20 team as he games a subtle first major title at the World Cup.
The 32-year-old Kohli will step down as T20 skipper after the 16-nation tournament in the United Arab Emirates and Oman that starts on Sunday.
Kohli had been at the center of increasing theory in recent months as the wait for success grew.
“I think he will like his cricket more now after taking this decision,” Pathan, who played a key role in India’s opening T20 World Cup triumph in 2007, told AFP.
Kohli developed captain across all formats after M.S. Dhoni give up his limited-overs leadership in 2017. But India has not won a World Cup or Champions Trophy since.
Kohli was last in on his India debut when Dhoni’s team bent history by winning the first world T20 title in Johannesburg.
The triumph activated a T20 boom across South Asia and led to the birth of the IPL in 2008.
India, the hosts and led by Dhoni, lost in the semi-finals to ultimate winners West Indies contempt an unbeaten 89 by Kohli in 2016.
India remains one of the favorites to lift the T20 trophy in Dubai on November 14 together with holders West Indies and Eoin Morgan’s England.
“I will always want India to win, but West Indies will be one of the favorites,” additional Pathan.
All 15 Indian squad members, and three replacement players, have been in the UAE for over a month with their IPL teams receiving used to the pitches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The in-form K.L. Rahul and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant whole the top order batting lead while Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack.