Virat Kohli saved the best for the T20 World Cup Final (AP Photo)
Virat Kohli smashed 76 runs off 59 balls, with the help of 6 boundaries and a couple of sixes, as India posted 176/7 in 20 overs after opting to bat first.
The cricketing world bowed down to Virat Kohli after he showcased that there was still enough gas left in the tank. After a streak of low scores in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, Kohli top-scored when it mattered the most; in the final against South Africa at Kensington Oval in Barbados. He smashed 76 runs off 59 balls, with the help of 6 boundaries and a couple of sixes, as India posted 176/7 in 20 overs after opting to bat first.
Kohli had saved the best for the final. After India lost the likes of Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav early in the innings, the former skipper held his ground and stitched an innings-defining partnership, of 72 runs, with Axar Patel for the 4th wicket.
Kohli, who had come into the final averaging just 10.71, made the perfect start by hitting three fours off the opening over from Marco Jansen, with the 15 runs coming from the first six balls a record high for a T20 World Cup final. He reached his half-century from 48 balls and celebrated by launching the next ball he faced, from Rabada, over long-on for six. However, it was the second-slowest fifty for India in the ICC events of the shortest format.
Kohli finally went in the 19th over caught by Rabada at long-on off Jansen after hitting six fours and two sixes in his 59-ball innings. He departed for 76 which is now the second-highest score in a T20 World Cup final.
Earlier, skipper Rohit Sharma looked to maintain that momentum he had in the previous two fixtures and struck boundaries off the first two balls from left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj but then misjudged a sweep shot, finding Heinrich Klaasen at mid-wicket who made a fine, low, diving catch.
Maharaj then claimed a second victim in his first over when Rishabh Pant also attempted a sweep but mistimed his shot badly, top-edging a full delivery straight up in the air and into the gloves of wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock.
Kohli was looking confident but needed someone to build a partnership after Suryakumar Yadav lasted just four balls before he holed out to Klaasen at deep square leg off Kagiso Rabada.
India were 45-3 at the end of the six-over powerplay and added 30 more, with no loss, at the halfway point in their innings. Kohli and Axar were then motoring along nicely and the 100 came up off 82 balls with Axar smashing Rabada over long-on for six.
(With Agency Inputs)
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