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Former Indian allrounder Irfan Pathan praised Virat Kohli as the linchpin of Indian cricket. Pathan’s remarks followed Kohli’s standout performance in the final of the recent ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Despite a challenging start to the tournament, Kohli’s form improved significantly in the final. He had struggled in earlier matches, scoring only 75 runs in 7 games, which included two ducks. Criticism mounted, with calls from various quarters to drop him from the team, labeling him as the weak link.
However, Kohli silenced his critics with a stellar performance in the final, earning the Player of the Match award. Batting under pressure, he anchored the innings with a superb 76 runs after India found themselves in trouble at 34 for 3 early on. This innings proved crucial as India posted a competitive total of 176/7, eventually winning by 7 runs as they defended their score against South Africa.
Reflecting on Kohli’s impact, Irfan Pathan emphasized that Kohli consistently steps up in crucial matches, dubbing him as India’s key player in such high-stakes encounters.
Irfan Pathan says Virat Kohli is the India’s control room
“Virat Kohli is the control room of Indian cricket. He controls the big moments, big matches, big stages of Indian cricket,” said Irfan Pathan while speaking on Star Sports.
A legendary career for Virat Kohli:
Following India’s World Cup triumph, Virat Kohli made a significant announcement regarding his cricket career. During the post-match presentation where he received the Player of the Match award, the seasoned batsman confirmed that the match against South Africa marked his final appearance in T20 Internationals for Team India.
The World Cup victory served as a fitting conclusion to Virat Kohli’s illustrious T20I journey. Renowned as one of the format’s most distinguished batsmen, the right-handed cricketer retires having amassed an impressive record. Only Rohit Sharma has surpassed his run tally in T20 Internationals, while in the T20 World Cup, Kohli stands as the highest run-scorer of all time.
