Kohli’s dreams were dealt a fatal blow when India stumbled in the T20 World Cup in 2021. They were eliminated in the group stages, falling behind Pakistan and New Zealand in group two. Even though he had already expressed his decision to remove the leadership of the T20 unit, his early exit dealt a severe blow to his carefully built reputation as a strong leader.
Even though Kohli only wanted to hand over the reins in the shortest format, the cracks were now in the public domain. In the lead-up to the South Africa series, the wounds were left bare, leaving them withered under the sun. Against his wishes, the BCCI snatched control from him, appointing Rohit Sharma as the limited overs captain.
Kohli carried the injury scars to South Africa, who were eager to repair the damage by securing India’s first series win from the Cape of Good Hope. Unfortunately, however, after starting off with a modest victory in the opening Test, Kohli and his men ran into a stubborn bunch of sailors, ready to shore up their leaking boat safely. The hosts showed remarkable character despite being raw and volatile. He came back with a hard-fought effort, in contrast to a delicate batting performance by the visitors. The series was lost in Cape Town, and with it Kohli’s dwindling hopes of reviving his place on the throne of Indian cricket.
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