"No one was worried about Virat Kohli's form" - Irfan Pathan on opener's 2024 T20 World Cup campaign
Irfan Pathan has noted that no one was concerned about Virat Kohli's form heading into the 2024 T20 World Cup final. He added that he was only worried during the final, especially in the middle overs, but was proven wrong by the modern batting great.
Kohli aggregated only 75 runs in his first seven innings in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. However, he scored a match-winning 59-ball 76 in the final against South Africa to take India to their second global title in the shortest format.
During an interaction on Star Sports, Pathan was asked about Kohli delivering the goods in the final after a lean run.
"Virat Kohli is the Indian team's control room. He controls the winning moments. Even in the semi-finals and before that as well, no one was worried about Virat Kohli's form. The only time I was worried was when I was commentating during the final, especially in that middle phase, but Virat knows the best," he responded.
The former India all-rounder pointed out that Kohli paced his innings to perfection in the summit clash.
"He knows what kind of pitch he is playing on and what is the best score for the Indian team, and he exactly did that, especially in the end when he finished the innings. It was so special because to actually go out there and perform in the final is not everyone's cup of tea. Not everyone can achieve that. Virat Kohli is special," Pathan observed.
Kohli struck three fours in the first over of the final before adopting a cautious approach due to the loss of three quick wickets. He reached his half-century off 48 deliveries and smoked 26 runs off the next 10 balls he faced to provide the required impetus to the Indian innings.
"What makes it special is that I am going to be standing next to him" - Irfan Pathan on Virat Kohli and him being Player of the Match in T20 World Cup finals
Irfan Pathan was delighted that he shares a special accolade with Virat Kohli.
"What makes it special is that I am going to be standing next to him when it comes to Man of the Match in the final. That will always be there with me as far as the special moments are concerned. The 2007 T20 World Cup Man of the Match in the final was given to Irfan Pathan, and the 2024 T20 World Cup Man of the Match in the final was given to our champion, our control room, Virat Kohli," he said in the same interaction.
The cricketer-turned-commentator also credited Rohit Sharma for ensuring that Kohli was in the right mind frame even after giving up captaincy.
"Rohit Sharma's role in that was very important because when you are the captain and then you are not the captain, that phase is different. When you leave the captaincy and someone else is taking over, how that leader helps you to actually be in that same zone as you were there as a leader is important. Every time Virat Kohli was captain, he talked very highly of Rohit Sharma, the same thing Rohit did with Virat," Pathan explained.
Rohit persisted with Kohli as his opening partner throughout the 2024 T20 World Cup despite the latter's lean run. The Indian skipper and head coach Rahul Dravid expressed confidence about Kohli rising to the occasion in the final and they weren't let down.