Bowlers “Saved Virat Kohli’s Innings”: Sanjay Manjrekar Drops Participant Of The Match Bomb

The T20 World Cup 2024 last continues to supply subjects of debate. India’s victory towards South Africa wasn’t a simple one, with the bowlers’ late heroics pulling the group again into the sport. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh’s loss of life bowling rescued India from a state of affairs the place South Africa wanted simply 30 runs from 30 balls to win the match. However, the Indian group ultimately emerged triumphant by 7 runs, because of the bowling trio. Nevertheless, the Participant of the Match went to Virat Kohli, a lot to the shock of former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar.

In a post-match present on ESPNCricinfo, Manjrekar recommended that Kohli’s knock of 76 runs off 59 balls put India in a spot of hassle earlier than the tempo bowlers got here to the rescue. Manjrekar additionally stated that his selection for the Participant of the Match would’ve been an Indian bowler, not Kohli.

“By taking part in that innings, Hardik Pandya, one in all their most devastating batters, had simply two balls to face. So I assumed India’s batting was good, however Virat Kohli had doubtlessly performed an innings that might’ve put India in a decent nook. And it nearly proved to be that, earlier than these guys’ bowlers got here ultimately.

“India had been in a dropping place, 90 % successful probabilities (for South Africa). The whole turnaround truly saved Virat Kohli’s innings as a result of he performed just about half the innings with a strike-rate of 128. My Participant of the Match would’ve been a bowler as a result of they really took the sport from the jaws of defeat and gained it for India,” Manjrekar stated.

Former Zimbabwe cricketer, Andy Flower, nonetheless, had a barely totally different perspective. In accordance with him, India had performed sufficient with the bat by placing a complete of 176 runs on the board. However, he did admit that had Rohit Sharma‘s males misplaced the match, Kohli would’ve courted loads of criticism.

“If India had been pipped there, there would’ve been loads of criticism going Virat Kohli’s method, I might reckon. On the midway mark, I assumed India had sufficient, and that it was going to be a really tough chase for South Africa,” he stated.