Can India not survive without Virat Kohli in T20I? Netizens have their say after series loss to West Indies

Nicknamed 'King Kohli' and 'Chase Master', Virat Kohli was given a rest during the T20I series against West Indies. Joining him on the sidelines was captain Rohit Sharma, resulting in the Men in Blue being led by Hardik Pandya. Unfortunately, the tide didn't turn in India's favour, leading to the Windies securing their first T20I bilateral series triumph since 2016.

READ | Old footage of MS Dhoni-Virat Kohli's 'Bromance' surfaces amid Hardik Pandya's 'selfish' act

In the fifth T20I, Brandon King's unbeaten 85* compounded India's woes as Windies secured a historic T20I series victory (3-2) with an eight-wicket win in the final match held in Lauderhill, Florida. Prior to this, Suryakumar Yadav's second half-century of the series propelled India to a total of 165/8 within their allotted 20 overs. 

READ | ICC ODI World Cup 2023: India matches, tickets price, registration date, how to book and more

In the aftermath of the series loss, questions have surfaced among netizens regarding the decision to keep Kohli out of the T20I format. The former India captain has frequently proven his ability to secure victories for India during critical moments — most notably, the recent triumph against Pakistan at the 2022 World Cup.

Consequently, a pertinent query has arisen: Can Team India thrive without the presence of stalwarts like Virat Kohli in their lineup?

Following the Windies series, India's attention will pivot toward Ireland where the side will be captained by Jasprit Bumrah. This forthcoming engagement entails a three-match T20I series.

For Bumrah, this presents a significant stride as he returns to action following a considerable hiatus due to injury. His primary objective will be to rekindle his form during this series, as it serves as a stepping stone toward his preparation for the upcoming challenges of the Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup.