In a heart-wrenching moment during the T20 World Cup 2024 semifinal between India and England, Rahul Dravid and Jasprit Bumrah were seen consoling a visibly upset Virat Kohli after his premature dismissal for just 9 runs. This marked his fifth single-digit score in seven innings in the current tournament, a stark contrast to his impressive IPL performance earlier this year.
Virat Kohli’s IPL campaign was nothing short of spectacular, finishing as the highest run-scorer with 741 runs, including a century and five half-centuries. Given his stellar form, the Indian team management decided to promote him to an opening position for the T20 World Cup. Unfortunately, Kohli struggled to replicate his IPL success on the international stage. He kicked off the tournament with a meager 1-run knock, followed by just 4 runs against Pakistan, and a duck against the USA.
ALSO READ: Netizens React To Virat Kohli’s Rare Failure In T20 World Cup 2024 Semi-Finals
Kohli showed some promise in the Super 8 stage, scoring 24 against Afghanistan and 37 against Bangladesh, but these glimpses of form were not enough to silence his critics. In a critical match against Australia, he was dismissed for a duck, heightening the pressure on him to perform in the semifinal against England.
Expectations were sky-high as fans and teammates hoped Kohli would regain his form and lead India to victory. However, he was bowled out by Reece Topley in the third over while attempting an aggressive shot, leaving the field after scoring 9 runs off 9 balls.
ALSO READ: Virender Sehwag Urges Team India To Win T20 World Cup 2024 For Rahul Dravid’s Legacy
The sight of Kohli being consoled by head coach Rahul Dravid and his teammates in the dugout underscored the emotional weight of his dismissal. Kohli, known for his resilience in high-stakes games, appeared deeply dejected, reflecting the gravity of his underperformance.
— Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (@Hanji_CricDekho) June 27, 2024
— Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (@Hanji_CricDekho) June 27, 2024
At the time of Kohli’s departure, India was 65 for 2 after 8 overs before rain interrupted play. Shortly after, Sam Curran dismissed Rishabh Pant, adding to India’s woes. With Captain Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav at the crease, India hopes these star batters can steer the team to a competitive total once the match resumes. The semifinal hangs in balance as fans await a thrilling conclusion to this high-stakes encounter.
