Virat Kohli will be looking for a fairytale ending to his leadership of India's Twenty20 team as he chases an elusive first major title at the World Cup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kohli had been at the centre of growing speculation in recent months as the wait for success grew.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I think he will enjoy his cricket more now after taking this decision," Pathan, who played a key role in India's inaugural T20 World Cup triumph in 2007, told AFP.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kohli became captain across all formats after M.S. Dhoni relinquished his limited-overs leadership in 2017. But India have not won a World Cup or Champions Trophy since.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kohli was closing in on his India debut when Dhoni's team created history by winning the first world T20 title in Johannesburg.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The triumph triggered a T20 boom across South Asia and led to the birth of the IPL in 2008.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India, the hosts and led by Dhoni, lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners West Indies despite an unbeaten 89 by Kohli in 2016.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India remain one of the favourites to lift the T20 trophy in Dubai on November 14 alongside holders West Indies and Eoin Morgan's England.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I will always want India to win, but West Indies will be one of the favourites," added Pathan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
All 15 Indian squad members, and three standby players, have been in the UAE for over a month with their IPL teams getting used to the pitches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.<\/p>\r\n\r\n