India scripted history after 11 long years as they broke the drought of ICC trophy. They have come close ons several occasions but have been knocked out in the semi finals and the final. On 19th November, they suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Australia in the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 after winning all the 10 games dominantly. However, the team India side came back strongly in the T20 World Cup 2024 and won the World Cup undefeated. One man who was the centre of attention as always was Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli has been a sensational performer and a different beast altogether in T20 World Cup history. However, off late and especially in the IPL 2024, his strike rate was put into question as he could not accelerate in the proper way as he used to do earlier. Kohli was shifted to the opening position from number 3 in the T20 World Cup 2024. He opened with the Indian captain, Rohit Sharma. Kohli did not have a fruitful T20 World Cup 2024 until the final.
In the final, he stepped up when the chips were down with India at 34/3. Kohli held the innings together and scored 76 runs off 59 balls. India reached the score of 176 in their 20 overs but Kohli’s strike rate was called Ito question yet again. At one stage with Klaasen finding his way through the chase, India were down and out. However, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh turned the match in India’s favour.
Sanjay Manjrekar criticised Kohli’s innings in the final and stated that his innings put India in trouble. It reduced the chances of Hardik Pandya making an impact with the bat. He also said that Virat Kohli is not a good T20 player anymore as he has lost his power.
Manjrekar said: “So I thought India’s batting was good, but Virat Kohli had potentially played an innings that would’ve put India in a tight corner. And it almost proved to be that, before these guys’ bowlers came in the end. India were in a losing position, 90 percent winning chances (for South Africa). The complete turnaround actually saved Virat Kohli’s innings because he played virtually half the innings with a strike-rate of 128.
My Player of the Match would’ve been a bowler because they actually took the game from the jaws of defeat and won it for India. By playing that innings, Hardik Pandya, one of their most devastating batters, had just two balls to face. So I thought India’s batting was good, but Virat Kohli had potentially played an innings that would’ve put India in a tight corner. And it almost proved to be that, before these guys’ bowlers came in the end.”
Manjrekar added: “In the IPL, there was one season where he got runs and had the most sixes. And the most sixes. So, he had the power game. And in that game in Mohali against Australia, we saw the best of Virat Kohli. It was like hitting the big shots at will. With age, you lose a bit of power. And that is something that has happened to Sachin Tendulkar as well.”
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