India national cricket team and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batting superstar Virat Kohli spoke his heart out at the post-match presentation ceremony while interacting with veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle following his heroics in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on March 25.
Virat Kohli was the main architect of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)’s victory in the sixth match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Opening the innings, Virat Kohli stood tall at one end and scored 77 runs off 49 balls to help his team win the match by 4 wickets.
Speaking after the match, Virat Kohli, who won the Man of the Match award, said that for him creating memories is more important than records. He said:
“It has been going on for years (love affair with Chinnaswamy fans). People talk about many other things when you play sports: achievements, statistics, numbers. But when you look back, it’s the memories you create. “The love, appreciation and support I have received has been incredible.”
Virat Kohli also revealed that his role in RCB is to give his team bright starts as an opener, but falling wickets at regular intervals made things more difficult for him. He also expressed his disappointment for not being able to finish the match and losing his wicket at a crucial juncture of the match. He elaborated:
“I try to give the team a good start, but if the wickets fall you have to evaluate it. It wasn’t the usual flat tone. Disappointed I couldn’t finish the game. He was in the groove but he cut it deep. They know I play the cover drive well, so they won’t let me get into the gaps. You have to come up with a game plan here and there.”
I know my name is now linked solely to the promotion of the game in different parts of the world – Virat Kohli
Recently, reports emerged in the media stating that Virat Kohli is expected to be left out of India’s squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup as his batting style will not be ideal for the conditions that will be offered in the US. and the West Indies.
Also, speaking on air during the match between GT and MI, former England batsman Kevin Pietersen said that Virat Kohli is needed in India’s team for the T20 World Cup as he will help the game grow in the US. .
“The World Cup will be held in the United States. India plays Pakistan in New York. You would want someone like Virat Kohli to help the game grow,” Pietersen said.
Ravi Shastri rejected Kevin Pietersen’s statement and in response said that growing the game is not more important than winning the tournament and India should go with the flamboyant players in the World Cup.
“It’s not about growing the game, it’s about winning the competition. The game will grow where it needs to. What I’m trying to say is not baggage. And India won the 2007 T20 World Cup with a young team. You want youth. You want extravagance. You want that script,” she had said.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli apparently spoke about the reports of his 2024 T20 World Cup snub and also dug into Ravi Shastri, saying that he still has it and his name is being used to promote cricket in different parts of the world. He said:
“I know that my name is now linked to promoting the game in different parts of the world when it comes to T20 cricket. “I still have it, I guess.”
Virat Kohli signed off by talking about the two-month break he took to spend time with his family and a newborn. He said:
“Just feeling normal for two months (for me and my family) was a surreal experience. I couldn’t have been more grateful to God for the opportunity to spend time with family. It is an incredible experience to be another person on the road and not be recognized. “That’s the promise I can make here: I’m going to keep showing up and do the best I can.”