Six months following his remarkable performance at the 2023 ODI World Cup, Virat Kohli, the batting maestro, gears up for the challenge of clinching his first T20 World Cup title as India commences its campaign on June 5 in New York. This marks Kohli’s sixth appearance at the prestigious event, with his closest brush with victory being in 2014, when India fell short against Sri Lanka in the final. With a staggering 1141 runs from 27 matches, Kohli stands as the leading run-scorer in the history of T20 World Cups.
In comparison, his compatriot and teammate Rohit Sharma trails behind with 963 runs from 39 matches, underscoring Kohli’s dominance in the format. Widely acclaimed as the finest batter of his generation across all formats, Kohli’s prowess garners admiration even from legends like his former teammate Yuvraj Singh.
Yuvraj Singh, speaking in an interview with ICC, hailed Kohli as the epitome of excellence in contemporary cricket, stating, “He (Kohli) has definitely broken all the records in this era. The best batter of this generation, I feel, in all formats.” Expressing his belief that Kohli deserves more than the solitary World Cup medal in his collection, Yuvraj emphasizes Kohli’s hunger for further success on the global stage.
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Virat Kohli’s contributions to India’s T20 World Cup campaigns have been monumental, with several iconic innings etching his name in tournament history. Notably, his 82 off 51 balls against Australia in a crucial run-chase of 161 stands out as a testament to his ability to thrive under pressure.
Reflecting on Kohli’s batting prowess, Yuvraj Singh emphasizes his astute understanding of the game and his remarkable ability to execute plans under pressure. “Once he had the confidence of chasing and knowing the situation, he knows how to bat in these situations,” Yuvraj Singh remarks, highlighting Kohli’s strategic approach to batting.
Kohli’s standout T20 World Cup performance came in 2014, where he amassed 319 runs from six innings, including four half-centuries, playing a pivotal role in India’s journey to the final. Recalling Kohli’s exceptional form during that tournament, Yuvraj Singh reminisces about their partnership in the final and lauds Kohli’s relentless work ethic.
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“What I think he was so good was because every time in nets or a practice situation, he would not go and just slog balls,” Yuvraj Singh reveals. “He put that in repetition after repetition after repetition. I have not seen that in many players. I think that is the key to his success,” he adds, shedding light on Kohli’s dedication to honing his skills through focused practice sessions.
