What is Virat Kohli’s record in T20 World Cup finals?
Team India and South Africa will battle for supremacy in the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Barbados on June 29. Ahead of the title clash, much has been discussed about ace batter Virat Kohli's form with the willow.
The 35-year-old has endured a horrific tournament thus far, scoring only 75 runs at an average of under 11 in seven outings. Yet, Kohli's overall numbers and stellar performance in his lone T20 World Cup final will have Indian fans optimistic about a bounce-back game from the champion batter.
Kohli is playing in his sixth T20 World Cup yet has played in only the lone final before the upcoming one in 2014. He shone brightly in that game against Sri Lanka, scoring a brilliant 77 off 58 deliveries with five boundaries and four maximums.
The stylish right-hander top-scored for India in their sub-par total of 130/4 in 20 overs. Unfortunately for Kohli and India, Sri Lanka comfortably chased the score down, denying the Men in Blue a second T20 World Cup title.
Nevertheless, Kohli's T20 World Cup final numbers boast an impressive 77 at a strike rate of 132.75.
His overall T20 World Cup record is nothing short of sensational with 1,216 runs at an average of 57.90 and a strike rate of 128.81 in 34 outings. Kohli is also the all-time leading scorer in T20 World Cup history and has amassed an incredible 14 half-centuries.
"I think there's a big one coming up" - Rahul Dravid on Virat Kohli
Team India head coach Rahul Dravid hailed Virat Kohli's intent throughout the ongoing T20 World Cup despite his low scores. Dravid believes a big score was around the corner in the grand finale.
Kohli was coming off a spectacular run in the 2024 IPL season, finishing as the leading run-scorer with 741 runs, ahead of the T20 World Cup.
In a conversation with Star Sports after India's semifinal win over England, Dravid said of Kohli:
"When you play a slightly high-risk brand of cricket, there can be times when it doesn't come off. Even today, I thought he hit a really good six to set the tempo but he was just unlucky that the balls just maybe seamed a little bit more. But I love the intent, I loved the way he went about doing it, sets a great example to the group as well. I don't want to jinx it but I think there's a big one coming up."
While Kohli has been searching for runs, Team India have had no issues running through the 2024 World Cup, winning all seven games heading into the summit clash.
Should they defeat South Africa in the final, Rohit Sharma's men will become the first team to go unbeaten in a single T20 World Cup edition.