Former Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla has credited Virat Kohli for India’s historic and long-awaited triumph in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Piyush Chawla believes that if Virat Kohli had not scored runs, Team India would have had to return empty-handed once again from the mega event in June 2024.
The former spinner recalled how Virat Kohli silenced his critics with his match-winning performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa in Barbados.
In a high-pressure game, the daring right-hander once again showed the world why he is considered one of the greats of modern cricket.
Piyush Chawla credits Virat Kohli for India’s long-awaited ICC win
It is noteworthy that the former Indian captain had managed just 75 runs in the first seven innings of the tournament, leading to widespread criticism over his performance with the Men in Blue.
But when it mattered most, the batting maestro delivered a lesson in pure class under tremendous pressure as his all-important knock of 76 runs off 59 balls helped India lift the T20 World Cup trophy.
Virat Kohli’s innings, laced with six boundaries and two towering sixes, came at a strike rate of 128.81, giving India the much-needed boost in the tight finish to the 2024 T20 World Cup final.
His crucial 72-run partnership with Axar Patel, who contributed 47 off 31 balls, proved to be the turning point in the final against South Africa in Barbados.
Virat Kohli and Patel together guided India to a competitive total of 176/7 in their 20 overs, eventually restricting South Africa to 169/8 to end their decade-long ICC trophy haul.
Who made the runs in the 2024 T20 World Cup final?
It was a fairly quiet tournament for Kohli, though, finishing with just 151 runs from eight innings at an average of 18.87, but his half-century in the final spoke volumes about the mental strength and, of course, match-winning ability his career is built on.
Meanwhile, Chawla said Kohli’s performance in the final not only silenced his critics but further cemented his stature as a player for the most demanding moments of the game.
The former cricketer said India’s triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup was a demonstration of Kohli’s determination as he defied the odds and rose to the occasion when it mattered most.
Furthermore, Chawla highlighted that Kohli’s mental strength has become more crucial than physical training at this stage of his career. The former cricketer also emphasised that after years of playing the game, mental preparation takes precedence over physical efforts for a player like Kohli.
Virat won the 2024 T20 World Cup for India: Chawla
Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast on YouTube, Piyush Chawla said: “Virat has reached a point where the mind is more important than training. We all know how mentally strong he is as a player. He was not making runs in the 2024 T20 World Cup and people were talking about him.
Who made the runs in the final? Virat Kohli. The team reached 175 thanks to Axar Patel and Virat Kohli. When a player plays for so many years, beyond the matches on the field, his mental preparation is important.
Virat Kohli won us the T20 World Cup
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