Virat Kohli will enjoy his cricket more after deciding to step down as India’s T20I captain, says Irfan Pathan

Virat Kohli will be hoping for a fairytale conclusion to his leadership of India's T20 side as he chases an elusive first major title at the World Cup.

Kohli, 32, will step down as T20 captain following the start of the 16-nation competition in the United Arab Emirates and Oman on Sunday.

The prodigious run-scorer has also stepped down as captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, and many have applauded his choice to focus more on his batting.

As the wait for victory grew in recent months, Kohli became the subject of increasing conjecture.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes Kohli will be able to go into the World Cup, which begins on October 24, with minimal pressure, which will be beneficial to the squad.

"I think he will enjoy his cricket more now after taking this decision," Pathan, who was instrumental in India's first T20 World Cup victory in 2007, told AFP.

"India will do well with the side, the confidence and the experience they have."

Kohli took over as captain in all forms after MS Dhoni stepped down as limited overs captain in 2017. Since then, India has failed to win a World Cup or a Champions Trophy.

Kohli will still have Dhoni by his side as the team mentor for the competition. Dhoni led India to the T20 title in 2007 and the 50-over crown in 2011.

The victory sparked a T20 craze across South Asia, resulting in the establishment of the IPL in 2008.

Kohli quickly established his own brand of cricket after making his ODI debut in 2008, but he has been criticised for his failure to win a worldwide crown.

Despite Kohli's unbeaten 89, India, the hosts and led by Dhoni, lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners West Indies in 2016.

Three years later, under Kohli, India was eliminated in the final four of the ODI World Cup.

Along with Holder's West Indies and Eoin Morgan's England, India remains one of the favourites to win the T20 trophy in Dubai on November 14.

In Group B, India will face off against old rivals Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan, and two other qualifying nations in the hopes of advancing to the semi-finals.

"I always want India to win, but the West Indies will be one of the favourites," Pathan added.

"England and Australia all have good attacks, and you can never count out Pakistan. It will be a very, very competitive World Cup."

All 15 members of the Indian squad, as well as three standby players, have been in the UAE for over a month, working with their respective IPL clubs to become used to the surfaces in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.