Virat Kohli, often hailed as the best player of his generation, silenced his critics with a stunning performance when it mattered the most. Despite only entering double digits twice in his previous seven innings, Kohli’s 59-ball 76 against South Africa in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 was nothing short of spectacular.

Virat Kohli: The undisputed king

Kohli’s journey through the World Cup had been a rollercoaster. His early performances were scrutinized, with many questioning his form and ability to lead India to glory. Critics were quick to point out his lack of big scores, but Kohli, known for his resilience and determination, had other plans for the final.

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A shaky start

India’s innings started on a shaky note. Early dismissals of Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant within a span of three deliveries left India reeling. Kohli, entering the field with a daunting task ahead, knew that his innings needed to be a mix of caution and aggression.

The turning point

Kohli’s response to the early pressure was nothing short of heroic. He began by smashing lanky pacer Marco Jansen for three fours in the opening over. This aggressive start was a statement of intent. However, the loss of wickets meant Kohli had to recalibrate his approach.

Building the innings

Together, Kohli and Axar built a solid partnership. They steadily accumulated runs, with key boundaries interspersed throughout their innings. By the end of 10 overs, Kohli was 36 off 29, and the foundation for a competitive total was laid.

The climax of Kohli’s innings was marked by calculated aggression. In the 19th over, Kohli smashed Jansen for a four and a six, signaling his intent to accelerate. This burst of runs was crucial in pushing India towards a respectable total.

Kohli’s dismissal came in the 19th over, attempting another big hit off Jansen, only to find Rabada at long-on.

Kohli’s inning progression

During his innings in the final against South Africa in 2024, Virat Kohli’s progression was as follows: he scored 21 runs off his first 15 balls with a strike rate of 140.0, 16 runs off the next 15 balls with a strike rate of 106.7, 11 runs off the following 15 balls with a strike rate of 73.3, and 28 runs off the last 14 balls with a strike rate of 200.0.

Slowest Fifty for India in T20 World Cups (balls)

The slowest fifties for India in T20 World Cups, in terms of balls faced, are as follows: Suryakumar Yadav took 49 balls to reach fifty against the USA in New York in 2024, Virat Kohli took 48 balls against South Africa in the final in Bridgetown in 2024, Virat Kohli took 45 balls against Pakistan in Dubai in 2021, Gautam Gambhir took 44 balls against Bangladesh in Nottingham in 2009, and Rohit Sharma took 44 balls against the West Indies in Mirpur in 2014.

Reactions and aftermath

The reactions to Kohli’s innings were mixed. Fans hailed his knock as saviors innings, however critics were furious about his slow innings.