In a surprising turn of events, star Indian batter Virat Kohli was dismissed for just 9 runs in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024 against England. This rare failure in an ICC knockout matches. Known for his exceptional performances in high-stakes games, Kohli’s early dismissal was unexpected and disappointing.

Reece Topley’s delivery

Reece Topley delivered a well-pitched ball at a good length, which slightly shaped back into the right-hander. Kohli, attempting to shovel the ball over mid-wicket, was beaten by the movement, and the ball clipped the top of the leg stump. Virat Kohli scored 9 runs off 9 balls, including a single six.

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A rare feat

Kohli’s dismissal marks a significant departure from his usual form in ICC knockout matches. Previously, Kohli has scored a half-century in every T20 World Cup knockout game. His notable performances include 72* in the 2014 semi-final, 77* in the 2014 final, 89* in the 2016 semi-final, and 50* in the 2022 semi-final. This is the first time Virat hasn’t scored a half-century in a T20 World Cup semi-final match.

Virat’s struggle in T20 WC 2024

In this tournament, he has managed only 75 runs in seven games at an average of 10.50. His highest score in this campaign was 37, and he registered two ducks, raising concerns about his recent form in the international arena.

Kohli’s aggressive approach

Kohli has stepped out to pacers inside the Powerplay seven times in this tournament, managing just three runs and getting dismissed once. This is the highest frequency of such attempts in any series since April 2019, where detailed ball-by-ball data is available. Reece Topley has struck for England with a well-executed delivery, as their disciplined bowling attack maintained its high standards.

Lowest avg in a T20 WC edition for an opener (min 5 inns)
9.60 – Soumya Sarkar (BAN, 2016)
9.80 – Wesley Madhevere (ZIM, 2022)
10.71 – Virat Kohli (IND, 2024)
10.85 – Tanzid Hasan (BAN, 2024)
11.20 – Tamim Iqbal (BAN, 2007)

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