Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar reignited a strike-rate debate surrounding Virat Kohli. Speaking to Espncricinfo, the cricketer-turned-commentator questioned Kohli’s performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 final. Manjrekar voiced that he would have selected a bowler for the Player of the Match award over Kohli.
“The complete turnaround actually saved Virat Kohli’s innings because he played virtually half the innings with a strike-rate of 128. My Player of the Match would’ve been a bowler because they actually took the game from the jaws of defeat and won for India,” said Manjrekar as per The Times of India.
India competed for a second T20 World Cup crown against South Africa in the final. Playing at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, the Rohit Sharma-led side opted to bat first. India did not have an ideal start, losing three wickets within the first five overs. Kohli stepped up with a fabulous knock of 59-ball 76. His terrific batting helped India put up 176 runs in the first innings. While several fans and pundits lauded Kohli for his stellar knock, Manjrekar reckoned that the former Indian skipper approached the game rather slowly.
Manjrekar felt that Kohli’s knock left one of India’s more explosive batters Hardik Pandya with just a couple of balls to play. “By playing that innings, Hardik Pandya, one of their most devastating batters, had just two balls to face,” he said.
Manjrekar further claimed that Kohli’s knock could have left India in a complicated situation. “Virat Kohli had potentially played an innings that would’ve put India in a tight corner. And it almost proved to be that before these guys’ bowlers came in the end,” he added.
In the end, Kohli’s knock proved to be crucial as India got the better of South Africa by seven runs. Following India’s second T20 World Cup triumph, Kohli also announced his retirement from T20I cricket along with India skipper Rohit and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
India will next be involved in a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. The opening T20I between India and Zimbabwe will be played on Saturday, July 6.