ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Final – how many runs can Virat Kohli score?
As people wonder about Kohli's future in shorter format cricket, Al Jazeera reflects on the legendary player's best performances.
Rohit Sharma has been instrumental in guiding India to the ICC T20 World Cup final through his performance as the team's captain and top batsman. However, it is their ex-captain Virat Kohli who continues to attract attention, although for various reasons.
The player, who is 35 years old, has participated in 529 games for India since starting in 2008 and has accumulated almost 29,000 runs in various formats. However, in this tournament, he has not been performing at his usual level.
Kohli is facing a unique situation, as there are doubts about his position in the Indian team. He is currently the second highest run-scorer in T20 internationals, with 110 runs less than the top scorer Rohit. However, Kohli has only been able to score 75 runs in seven innings during the tournament, with his highest score being 37 against Bangladesh.
Although it is certain that he will be part of India's team for the final, it is unclear whether this game, and possibly the final itself, could be his final appearance in an ICC Cricket World Cup.
Kohli's exceptional performance has lifted India from sadness to happiness many times. Now, with one of the best batters in the game going through a rough patch, can his fellow players step up and help him out on Saturday?
We reflect on five of his best performances in limited-overs matches on the world stage that solidified his reputation as a legend in the sport.
Kohli Leads India To World Cup Win 2011
Three years after playing his first international match against Sri Lanka in a one-day international (ODI), Kohli became a World Cup champion in the 2011 tournament held in India. At just 22 years old, Kohli played alongside cricket legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and the top scorer in the final match against Sri Lanka, Gautam Gambhir, who scored 97 runs.
Kohli didn't perform as well in the later stages of the competition, but he did score 59 runs in the final group stage match with the West Indies. This was in a partnership of 123 runs with Yuvraj Singh for the third wicket. He began the tournament with a great innings, scoring an unbeaten 100 runs off 83 balls against Bangladesh. This helped India post a total of 370-4 in an 84-run victory to start off the tournament.
Limited-overs Genius Emerges In 2012
One year after winning the World Cup, Kohli's reputation as the new top player in Indian cricket was solidified with a remarkable performance that caught the attention of the world. In a competitive ODI series in Australia involving Sri Lanka as well, India was struggling to score high runs. Kohli came to bat when his team was in a tough spot at 86-2 in the tenth over, needing to score 321 runs in less than 40 overs to stay in the competition. He skillfully dismantled the Sri Lankan bowlers, especially Lasith Malinga, whom he hit for 24 runs in just one over. Kohli finished with an unbeaten score of 133 as India successfully chased down the target in just 36.4 overs.
Miraculous Win In 2012 Against Pakistan
Fresh from his impressive performance against Sri Lanka, Kohli displayed another outstanding innings. Known for his ability to chase down runs, he scored 183 runs in an ODI match against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2012. The target set for India was 330 runs after Pakistan's Hafeez and Jamshed both scored centuries. Despite India losing an early wicket, Kohli remained focused and scored his 183 runs off 148 balls. He had strong partnerships with Tendulkar (52) and Sharma (68), leading India to victory in a thrilling match at the Mirpur stadium in Bangladesh.
Kohli Dominates T20 World Cup 2014
Ten years ago, Kohli had a great performance in a T20 World Cup match against South Africa. South Africa had a good lead, but Kohli hit 74 runs off 42 balls to help India win. He broke South African dreams and defeated their strong bowling team. Kohli's 319 runs in the 2014 tournament is still a record for any batter in a T20 World Cup. However, India lost in the final to Sri Lanka, who claimed their first T20 title with a six-wicket victory.
Kohli's Special Performance Stuns Pakistan
Kohli was once again a major problem for Pakistan, as he started India's T20 World Cup 2022 with a remarkable comeback. India was in a tough spot at 31-4 after 6.1 overs, needing 160 runs to win. However, Kohli stepped up and played an incredible innings, scoring an unbeaten 82 runs off 53 balls. With just two overs left, India still needed 31 runs to win. In an amazing display of skill, Kohli hit two massive sixes off Haris Rauf in the final over, leaving Pakistan and all spectators in shock.
