Not Virat Kohli! Rohit Sharma credits this player for T20 World Cup title win: ‘That knock was a game changer’ | Cricket News – Times of India

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma celebrating the victory within the T20 World Cup remaining over South Africa (Image by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Rohit Sharma, who bid farewell to T20Is following India’s historic ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 title win, has opened up about the important thing player that paved the best way for India’s overcome South Africa within the remaining. In a heartfelt interplay with Star Sports, the Indian skipper lauded his staff’s grit and composure underneath strain, singling out one explicit player for his defining position. While the skipper handed Virat Kohli reward, it was Axar Patel that was deemed the ‘game changer’ within the tense remaining. India ended an 11-12 months wait for an ICC title by defeating South Africa in a tense remaining on the Kensington Oval in Barbados, on June 29, 2024. The Men in Blue have been topped T20 world champions for the primary time because the inaugural version in 2007, and it marked their first ICC trophy general because the 2013 Champions Trophy. Batting first in a excessive-stakes contest, India posted 176/7, due to a composed knock from Kohli and a essential counterattack by Axar Patel within the center overs. South Africa, regardless of a sturdy begin and being favourites heading into the demise overs, fell simply quick in a nerve-wracking chase, ending on 169/8. Reflecting on the ultimate, Rohit stated, “Not many people are talking about his (Axar’s) knock. But, that knock was a game changer. To get 47 off 31 in that time was very very crucial.”

Axar’s 47 off 31 balls, together with well timed boundaries when India have been wobbling, shifted the momentum in India’s favour. His partnership with Kohli stabilised the innings earlier than Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube added ending touches. Sharma additionally hailed Kohli for anchoring the innings, saying, “And then obviously we needed one guy to stick around. Virat did that job perfectly. Batted the entire innings throughout, which was really good, because Shivam, Axar, Hardik, they can come and play their role.”

Kohli’s 76 from 59 balls, a essential show in crucial game earned him the Player of the Match. The bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, then held their nerve within the demise overs to seal a lengthy-awaited ICC title and finish India’s trophy drought in world tournaments.