'I let myself down...,' says Virat Kohli after helping India win 2024 T20 World Cup
Virat Kohli won the Player of the Match award in 2024 T20 WC (Source: ICC)
Virat Kohli played the innings to remember as India won the 2024 T20 World Cup by beating South Africa in the final on Saturday (June 29). Kohli scored 76 after failing to score runs in previous seven matches.
The star batter announced his retirement after India won the title but the cricketer spoke at length with the broadcasters. During his conversation he revealed a chat he had with head coach Rahul Dravid.
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“Obviously, you have to move out of your comfort zone sometimes. In my mind, it was like no or never. I have to embrace my role and perform. When I couldn't perform, I told him (Rahul Dravid), ‘I let myself down. I need to be better’. (But) as I said, everything was just meant to be,” Kohli revealed.
Talking about Kohli's World Cup - he scored five runs in three Group Stage matches. The batter scored 1 run against Ireland, 4 runs against arch-rivals Pakistan and a duck against the USA.
Come Super 8 stage Kohli did play better, scoring 24 against Afghanistan and 37 against Bangladesh but got another duck against Australia.
Kohli failed once again in the semifinal, scoring just nine runs against England. He, however, played superbly in the final against the Proteas.
Kohli retired from T20Is as the all-time second highest run scorer with 4,188 runs in 125 matches to his name.
Thanks to Kohli, India managed to scored 176/8 in 20 overs - the highest total in a T20 World Cup final innings.
As for South Africa, they were ahead most of the time and needed 30 runs in last five overs with Heinrich Klaasen and Miller on the crease.
The chase derailed after Pandya dismissed Klaasen in 17th over and from thereon India came out as eventual winners, holding SA at 169/8.
