Yuvraj Singh, renowned for his explosive batting prowess, expresses his heartfelt desire to witness Virat Kohli clinch a medal at the forthcoming T20 World Cup. With Kohli gearing up for his sixth appearance in the prestigious tournament, Yuvraj Singh’s admiration for the Indian skipper’s talent shines through, as anticipation builds for the event co-hosted by the USA and the Caribbean islands in June.
Yuvraj Singh’s name is synonymous with brilliance in Indian cricket. His career, stretching from 2000 to 2019, was a masterclass in all aspects of the game. Yuvraj Singh wielded the willow with authority as a left-handed batsman, striking fear into bowlers across formats. His bowling, and left-arm spin, proved to be a valuable weapon, and his fielding was nothing short of exceptional.
The T20 format saw him contribute significantly, amassing over 1100 runs at an average of 28.02, peppered with 8 well-timed fifties. While his bowling wasn’t his primary weapon, Yuvraj Singh did manage to pick up 9 wickets in Test matches and a surprising 146 wickets in ODIs, all at respectable averages. The T20 format saw him claim 28 wickets, showcasing his adaptability across formats.
Six months following his remarkable performance at the 2023 ODI World Cup, batting maestro Virat Kohli embarks on his journey to clinch his first-ever T20 World Cup title as India commences their campaign on June 5 in New York. This marks Kohli’s sixth participation in the biennial event, with his closest brush with victory occurring in 2014 when India fell short against Sri Lanka in the final.
Virat Kohli In T20 World Cup
Virat Kohli, the former Indian captain, is a legend when it comes to the T20 World Cup. His performances throughout the years have cemented his position as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the tournament.
Kohli holds the record for the most runs scored in the T20 World Cup, surpassing the 1000-run mark and leaving legends like Mahela Jayawardene in his wake. Kohli also boasts an exceptional batting average of over 52, reflecting his ability to score consistently and build innings that truly matter. Furthermore, his conversion rate is phenomenal. He holds the record for the most fifties (14) in the tournament’s history, proving his knack for turning promising starts into substantial scores.
In the annals of T20 World Cups, Kohli stands tall as the leading run-scorer with 1141 runs amassed from 27 matches. Following closely behind among active cricketers is his Indian teammate Rohit Sharma, who trails with 963 runs from 39 matches.
Yuvraj Singh On Virat Kohli
Kohli’s dominance across all formats underscores his superiority over his contemporaries, earning him the title of the best batter of his generation, as acknowledged by many. Yuvraj Singh was having an interaction with ICC. It comes as no surprise that his former India teammate Yuvraj Singh, himself a cricketing legend, concurs with this sentiment as he said,
“He (Kohli) has definitely broken all the records in this era,” The best batter of this generation, I feel, in all formats. And I think he is also someone who needs a World Cup Medal. He has one. I’m sure he is not satisfied with one. I think he surely deserves that medal as well,”
Iconic innings mark Kohli’s T20 World Cup journey, notably his 82 off 51 balls against Australia, a pivotal contribution in India’s successful chase of 161 runs, securing their spot in the semi-finals.
“I think he understands his game really well. He knows if he’s there till the end, he is going to win the game for India and he has done that on some big occasions – against Australia in Mohali as well,” he added.
He further added, “Once he had the confidence of chasing and knowing the situation, he knows how to bat in these situations, knows which bowlers to attack, which bowlers to take singles off, when to attack again, handle the pressure and knows when to change his game.”
Kohli’s standout T20 World Cup performance occurred in 2014, where he amassed 319 runs from six innings, featuring four half-centuries. His remarkable form played a crucial role in India’s journey to the final of the tournament.
“I think he was outstanding. He was in one of the best forms of his life. He was hitting the ball unbelievably. And I had a small partnership with him (in the final) and then he batted with Dhoni,” Yuvraj stated.
Yuvraj, who was part of that India squad, explained why Kohli was so valuable at the competition.
He concluded, “Why I think he was so good was because every time in nets or a practice situation, he would not go and just slog balls. In the nets, he would always bat like he was batting in a match. He put that in repetition after repetition after repetition. I have not seen that in many players. I think that is the key to his success.”