New Delhi [India], Ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup final match between India and South Africa at the Kensington Oval, former cricketer Mohammad Kaif said that talismanic batsman Virat Kohli has a great chance to become a hero.
The 35-year-old had a slow performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 after a great run in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Kohli scored 75 runs at an average of 10.71 after featuring in all the Men in Blue matches. However, Virat Kohli was the leading run-scorer in IPL 2024, scoring 741 runs.
Kaif shared a video on his official X account where he pointed out that even MS Dhoni was out of form in the 2011 ODI World Cup, but he scored 91 runs in the final.
"Mahendra Singh Dhoni was out of form in the 2011 ODI World Cup. He played an unbeaten 91 runs in the final. His six off Kulasekara is etched in everyone's mind. That's why I think Virat Kohli has a great chance to convert me a hero," Kaif said.
The former cricketer also spoke about Kohli's century in the ODI World Cup 2023 at Eden Gardens.
"He must forget that he is in bad form. He had reached a century when India last played against South Africa in the ODI World Cup at Eden Gardens. He was brilliant that day and played very well, but he didn't try hard that day, but he was playing the ball on merit with proper cricket shots," he added.
The Men in Blue will face South Africa in the final match of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday.
Both teams have had a contrasting run in the tournament. The Rohit Sharma-led team has dominated every team it has faced in the tournament, including heavyweights like Australia, Pakistan and England.
While the Proteas have, on numerous occasions, narrowly escaped en route to the final. Bangladesh and Nepal gave them battle in the group stage. In their final Super 8 match against co-hosts West Indies, they all but sealed their exit as they chased the revised target of 123.
The 35-year-old had a slow performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 after a great run in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Kohli scored 75 runs at an average of 10.71 after featuring in all the Men in Blue matches. However, Virat Kohli was the leading run-scorer in IPL 2024, scoring 741 runs.
Kaif shared a video on his official X account where he pointed out that even MS Dhoni was out of form in the 2011 ODI World Cup, but he scored 91 runs in the final.
"Mahendra Singh Dhoni was out of form in the 2011 ODI World Cup. He played an unbeaten 91 runs in the final. His six off Kulasekara is etched in everyone's mind. That's why I think Virat Kohli has a great chance to convert me a hero," Kaif said.
The former cricketer also spoke about Kohli's century in the ODI World Cup 2023 at Eden Gardens.
"He must forget that he is in bad form. He had reached a century when India last played against South Africa in the ODI World Cup at Eden Gardens. He was brilliant that day and played very well, but he didn't try hard that day, but he was playing the ball on merit with proper cricket shots," he added.
The Men in Blue will face South Africa in the final match of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday.
Both teams have had a contrasting run in the tournament. The Rohit Sharma-led team has dominated every team it has faced in the tournament, including heavyweights like Australia, Pakistan and England.
While the Proteas have, on numerous occasions, narrowly escaped en route to the final. Bangladesh and Nepal gave them battle in the group stage. In their final Super 8 match against co-hosts West Indies, they all but sealed their exit as they chased the revised target of 123.
