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During discussions about the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, Indian cricketer Virat Kohli shared his thoughts on the prospect of playing cricket in the United States of America (USA). Expressing surprise at the idea, he mentioned that it hadn’t crossed his mind before. Kohli expressed hope for the growth of cricket in the USA, aiming for increased awareness and popularity among the people there.
The United States of America is gearing up to co-host one of the premier events in cricket – the T20 World Cup, alongside the Caribbean, from June 1st to 30th. With a staggering 20 teams slated to participate, this promises to be an electrifying tournament.
The T20 World Cup 2024 will feature a total of 55 matches, with 16 of them scheduled to be held in the USA. New York, Florida, and Texas are the chosen cities for hosting the matches, marking a significant stride by the ICC in promoting cricket in the region.
While cricket hasn’t traditionally been a mainstream sport in the USA, efforts by the ICC in recent years are beginning to bear fruit. Additionally, the emergence of franchise cricket, notably Major League Cricket, has garnered considerable interest across the country.
With the T20 World Cup set to unfold on American soil, the sport is poised to attract a massive audience. The presence of global cricketing icons like Virat Kohli is expected to make a significant impact, given his widespread fan following worldwide.
Virat Kohli stands as a towering figure in the realm of sports, renowned and revered worldwide. His influence extends even to the International Cricket Council (ICC), where his name serves as a powerful emblem, utilized to propel events, particularly in the United States. The forthcoming T20 World Cup of 2024 bears witness to this phenomenon, with tickets swiftly vanishing into the eager hands of fans, promising a significant surge in support for the participating teams.
Virat Kohli’s resounding declaration about his intention to play in the United States carries considerable weight. It underscores his global appeal and signals a significant shift in cricket’s landscape, particularly in a market traditionally dominated by other sports. His decision resonates strongly, amplifying the sport’s presence in the USA and potentially opening new horizons for cricket’s growth and popularity in the region.
I never thought that we would be playing cricket in any form in the States – Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli talked about playing in the USA, saying that the sport is growing in the right direction and he hopes the impact to stay for a long. He also hoped that people from his region promote cricket in the States. He added that the country has great potential. Speaking about the same, he added:
“Honestly I never thought that we would be playing cricket in any form in the States. But now it’s a reality. And that tells you about the growing impact of the sport in the world and the United States more than willing to accept the change and be probably the first ones on a global scale to accept it in the way with the World Cup which is I think is a great start.
“It’s the ideal way to begin. So I think it’s going to have a huge impact and in starting off a kind of a domino effect and I hope that it carries on for a long period of time. And we have enough people from our regions to keep the game up and alive in the States and make the others more aware about what it feels like to play cricket and watch cricket.
“And I think it’s got great potential with the MLC as well. There’s already you know franchise cricket happening there. So I think it’s moving on in the right direction.”
Virat Kohli will be keen to make an impact in the T20 World Cup 2024. The batter has been the backbone of Team India in events like World Cups and would be eager to take his team to glory win the title and leave an impact in a country, where cricket isn’t popular.
