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Despite scoring only 75 runs in seven matches thus far in the 2024 T20 World Cup, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif remains optimistic that Virat Kohli can deliver a standout performance in the final against South Africa.
Kaif expressed his support for Kohli on social media, highlighting Kohli’s achievement as the top run-scorer in this year’s IPL with 741 runs. “Virat Kohli needs to remember that even Dhoni didn’t have a great World Cup in 2011 but he found form in the final. Small suggestion: He is too good a player to slog, he can play ball on merit and dominate any bowling attack.”
“Mahendra Singh Dhoni was out of form in 2011 ODI World Cup. He played an unbeaten 91-run knock in the final. His six over long on off Kulasekara is etched in everybody’s mind. That’s why I think Virat Kohli has a great chance to become a hero. He must forget that he is in poor form. He had hit a century when India last played South Africa in the ODI World Cup at Eden Gardens. He was brilliant that day and played very well but he wasn’t slogging that day but was playing the ball on merit with proper cricket shots,” Kaif said in the video.
“So I think in the final, he should play the ball on merit with proper cricket shots, he should not slog by exposing his wickets, he’s a great player. Players like Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav should play fast and Virat Kohli should play till the end the full 20 overs and the play the ball on merit. He’s a big match player and has the chance to become a hero just like Dhoni who was not in form in the 2011 ODI World Cup but when the big match came he played a match-winning unbeaten knock and Virat Kohli can do the same in this match,” he added.
