India’s dominant run in the T20 World Cup 2024 continued with a victory over England in the semi-final. However, their star player Virat Kohli extended his poor run of form in the tournament. The 35-year-old managed only nine runs before being bowled by Reece Topley, marking the fifth time he has failed to score double digits in this World Cup.
A Rare Slump for Virat Kohli
Kohli’s performance in this tournament has been surprisingly lacklustre. In seven innings, he has failed to score a single fifty, accumulating just 75 runs at a strike rate of 100. This is uncharacteristic for Virat Kohli, who boasts over 1100 runs in T20 World Cup history and has won two Player of the Tournament awards.
Notably, this is Kohli’s first failure in a T20 World Cup semi-final, contrasting sharply with his previous heroic performances against South Africa in 2014, West Indies in 2016, and England in 2022. He scored an unbeaten 72 off 44 in 2014, an unbeaten 89 off 47 in 2016, and 50 off 40 in 2022.
Criticism and Support
Fans and former cricketers alike are criticizing Kohli’s performance. Former India coach Ravi Shastri expressed his dissatisfaction, suggesting that Kohli is out of form and trying to play shots that are not natural to him.
“This is not Virat Kohli’s game. He should play according to situations and play his natural game. Then he has the capability to score quickly and catch up at the last. He is trying to manufacture shots. This is what you do when you are not in form,” Shastri told Star Sports.
Meanwhile, renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle asked fans to ‘show class’ while criticising a player. He also urged fans to show support for Kohli and expressed hope that the star batter can produce a match-winning knock in the final.
Fan Reactions
Fans have mixed reactions to Kohli’s slump. Some suggest he should bat at No.3 if India qualifies for the final, while others think it might be time for him to retire from T20 cricket.
Here are a few fan reactions:
Rohit Sharma Backs Virat Kohli
Despite the criticism, Indian captain Rohit Sharma has expressed confidence in Kohli, believing that he might be saving his best for the final.
“Virat is a quality player. Any player can go through that. We understand his class. When you have played for 15 years, form is never a problem. He’s probably saving it for the final,” Sharma remarked.
As India prepares for the T20 World Cup final, all eyes will be on Kohli to see if he can turn his form around and deliver when it matters most.
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