Reviewing Kohli’s historic innings and anticipating his play in the upcoming final.
Rohit Sharma has steered India into the ICC T20 World Cup final, displaying exceptional leadership both on and off the field. However, all eyes are on former captain Virat Kohli, whose performance has been lackluster in the current tournament.
At 35 years old, Kohli, with an illustrious career spanning 529 matches since his debut in 2008 and close to 29,000 runs across various formats, is currently experiencing a slump. Despite being India's second-highest run-scorer in T20 internationals, he has only managed 75 runs in seven innings during the competition.
While Kohli's place in the final is secure, speculation looms over his future in the Indian team, raising questions about his potential retirement from ICC Cricket World Cups. As one of the greatest batsmen in the sport faces a challenging phase, the upcoming final presents an opportunity for his teammates to reciprocate his past successes.
2011: Kohli and India’s Cricket World Cup triumph
In 2011, three years after his international debut, Kohli played a crucial role in India's 50-over Cricket World Cup victory on home turf. Despite modest performances in the knockout stages, Kohli's standout 59 in the group stage match against the West Indies and unbeaten 100 against Bangladesh set the tone for India's successful campaign.
2012: The emergence of a limited-overs genius
In 2012, Kohli solidified his status as a cricket superstar with a stellar innings in a tri-nation ODI series in Australia. Despite India's early struggle, Kohli's unbeaten 133 against Sri Lanka was instrumental in chasing down a daunting target to keep India's final hopes alive.
2012: Mirpur miracle against Pakistan
Continuing his stellar form, Kohli delivered a remarkable 183 against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2012. Facing a challenging chase, Kohli's heroic innings, accompanied by century stands with Tendulkar and Sharma, secured a memorable victory for India.
2014: Kohli rules T20 World Cup
In the 2014 T20 World Cup, Kohli's exceptional performance of 74 not out against South Africa remains a standout moment. Despite setting a record as the highest scorer in a T20 World Cup, India fell short as Sri Lanka claimed the title.
2022: A Kohli special stuns Pakistan
During the 2022 T20 World Cup, Kohli's unbeaten 82 off 53 balls against Pakistan showcased his ability to turn a dire situation into a remarkable victory for India, leaving spectators awestruck.
Source: ALJAZEERA
ALJAZEERA MEDIA NETWORK