New Delhi: The T20 World Cup 2024 has ended India’s long-standing ICC trophy drought. The Men in Blue defeated South Africa by 7 runs in the final and lifted their second T20 World Cup trophy. Rohit Sharma and Co. remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and many key performances in the tournament helped Team India to continue their winning run.
Two undefeated sides faced each other in the final and many players stood out in the big match with some sensational performances. But Virat Kohli’s knock made the most impact in the final. He didn’t have a great tournament with the bat but he stepped up on the big stage, scoring 76 runs off 59 balls. His innings helped India to post 176 runs on the scoreboard.
The star Indian batter also received the Player of the Match award for his impactful knock but the former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar was not happy with Kohli’s innings. He said that Virat Kohli’s innings would’ve put India in a tight corner and it was almost proved but bowlers did a great job in the end.
“By playing that innings, Hardik Pandya, one of their most devastating batters, had just two balls to face. So I thought India’s batting was good, but Virat Kohli had potentially played an innings that would’ve put India in a tight corner. And it almost proved to be that, before these guys’ bowlers came in the end,” Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo.
Manjrekar also said that India were in a losing position and the complete turnaround by the bowlers actually saved Virat Kohli’s innings and his player of the match would’ve been a bowler.
“India were in a losing position, 90 per cent winning chances (for South Africa). The complete turnaround actually saved Virat Kohli’s innings because he played virtually half the innings with a strike-rate of 128. My Player of the Match would’ve been a bowler because they actually took the game from the jaws of defeat and won it for India,” he added.
Team India set to return home
The Indian cricket team along with their families and board officials are set to return home in a charter flight arranged by the BCCI. The Barbados Prime Minister also confirmed that she expects the airport to be functional in the next 6 to 12 hours ending the shutdown caused by the hurricane Beryl.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar criticises Virat Kohli’s knock in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
