(AFP Photo)
Former India batsman and Chief Selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has dubbed Virat Kohli as the ultimate champion ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final.
India and South Africa are set to clash in the T20 World Cup 2024 final at Kensington Oval in Barbados later today to crown a new champion. Many players in the Indian squad, including Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Hardik Pandya, among others, will be vying to secure their first T20 World Cup title.
This final presents a golden opportunity for the Indian players. The sole player in the squad with prior T20 World Cup triumph experience is captain Rohit Sharma, who clinched the inaugural title in 2007 at the age of 20 under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. India emerged victorious against arch-rivals Pakistan in that memorable final held in South Africa. Tonight, the Men in Blue have the chance to add a second T20 World Cup title against South Africa.
Furthermore, only three players in the current squad have the experience of featuring in an ICC T20 World Cup final—Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja. Players like Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh have all played in T20 World Cup semi-finals and are set to experience their first final today.
Virat Kohli has faced a lackluster campaign in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, leaving fans questioning whether he will unleash his best against South Africa. This tournament marked Kohli’s debut as an opener in an ICC event, but his partnership with captain Rohit Sharma hasn’t yielded desired results.
While Rohit has been consistent with the bat and leading the team effectively, Kohli has struggled to find his rhythm, often falling victim to India’s aggressive batting approach. Across all seven matches India has played, Kohli has yet to reach a score of 40, let alone a half-century. His highest score in the tournament stands at just 34 runs, achieved two matches ago in the Super 8s against Bangladesh.
Expectations were high for Kohli in the semi-final against England in Guyana, but he managed only 9 runs. With the final now his last chance to make an impact, fans are hopeful that Kohli will deliver a standout performance later tonight.
Speaking to Star Sports ahead of the final, Krishnamachari Srikkanth commented on Virat Kohli’s form and performance in the T20 World Cup. Srikkanth, who famously selected the winning Indian squad for the 2011 Cricket World Cup, suggested that Kohli’s recent lack of runs should not be a cause for concern.
Krishnamachari Srikkanth acknowledged that while other batsmen may be performing well currently, he believes that Virat Kohli remains the true king when it comes to batting prowess. “There’s no problem with Kohli not having a big score. He’s a king of kings.” – Kris Srikkanth said via Star Sports.
