Virat Kohli is going through a lean patch in the ongoing T20 World Cup. He has scored only 75 runs across 7 innings in this edition of the mega event. Virat Kohli‘s poor form has also seen him registering two ducks. Thursday’s semi-final against England was no exception for Virat Kohli as he failed with a run-a-ball 9, losing his wicket to Reece Topley in the third over of India’s innings.
Team India advanced to the final of the T20 World Cup after 10 years. The Rohit Sharma-led side registered a commanding 68-run win over England in the second semi-final match at Providence Stadium, Guyana on Thursday. The 2007 champions thus set up a summit clash with South Africa, who outplayed Afghanistan by 9 wickets in the first semi-final.
Virat Kohli finding his groove slowly in T20 World Cup 2024
Virat Kohli is having his worst campaign in the history of the T20 World Cup, having scored just 75 runs from seven innings at an average of 13.20 and a strike rate of 108.19. The 35-year-old started the tournament with just five runs from the first three innings but has finally found some form with scores of 24 (24) and 37 (28) against Afghanistan and Bangladesh respectively.
The most prolific batter in the history of the tournament and two-time Player of the Tournament winner (2014 and 2016), will be eager to notch up a big score in the upcoming clash against Australia as India prepare to knock out their nemesis from the tournament.
The star Indian batting duo Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for their aggressive intent during the Super 8 fixture against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup 2024. The duo got India off to a brisk start by adding 39 runs for the first wicket off 22 balls. Rohit scored 23 (11) with the help of three fours and a six, while Kohli registered his highest score of the tournament so far, scoring 37 (28) with the help of one four and three sixes.
The Indian skipper got into the groove after facing just three balls in his innings as he collected back-to-back boundaries on the next two balls. On the other hand, Kohli also launched Shakib al Hasan for a maximum after facing just three balls in his innings. Post this Virat Kohli has failed in two innings vs Australia and in semi finals vs England.
In Guyana, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav played crucial knocks as India posted a total of 171 for 7 in 20 overs after being invited to bat. India were 40 for 2 in 5.2 overs before Rohit and Suryakumar stitched a solid 73-run stand to bail the side out of trouble. Rohit fell for 57 off 39 while Suryakumar hit 47 off 36. In the second innings, Axar Patel then dented England’s chase with figures of 3 for 23 while Kuldeep Yadav also picked 3 for 19.
Despite his lackluster form with the bat , Indian ace batter Virat Kohli has all the backing from his skipper Rohit Sharma who believes that he will come good in an all important finals.
Rohit Sharma addresses Virat Kohli’s form following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final win over England
Team India skipper Rohit Sharma dismissed any concern surrounding Virat Kohli’s poor run of form in the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Men in Blue successfully qualified for the final after a dominant 68-run win over England at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Thursday, June 27.
India pulled off a near-perfect display after posting 171 on a difficult surface. They then put together a dominant bowling performance, which ensured that England were never in the run chase. However, one of the few issues that still plague the side ahead of the all-important final is Virat Kohli’s poor run with the bat at the top of the order.
The ace batter scored only nine runs off nine deliveries before being cleaned up by Reece Topley in the early stages of the contest. This marks the fifth innings that the batter has failed to record double figures in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
However, the lack of runs does not worry the Indian skipper one bit as he expects Kohli to fire in the final.
“I mean look Virat is a quality player. Any player can go through this but we know his class. His form is not a problem. His intent is there and he is probably saving it for the final,” Rohit said during the post-match presentation
“Very satisfying to win the game. We have worked really hard as an unit and to win that game was special. We adapted to the conditions very well and that has been our success story. We have played the conditions very well. Very pleasing to see how we came though the game,” Rohit added about the match.
Virat Kohli’s highest score (37 off 28) in the 2024 T20 World Cup campaign came in Team India’s win over Bangladesh in the Super 8 stage. Overall, he has scored 75 runs in seven innings, with his strike rate reading exactly 100.
Rohit Sharma hopeful of good Indian show in the finals
The 2024 T20 World Cup marks the third successive major ICC tournament where India have made it to the final. They had made it to the final of the 2023 World Test Championship and the 2023 ODI World Cup but lost to Australia on both occasions.
“I thought we were very steady today which has been the key to our success. When you are composed in your mind, it helps you. We will try our best. The team is in good shape and all I can hope is to put up another good show in the final,” Rohit concluded.
Team India are scheduled to play the finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup against South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday, June 29.