Virat Kohli, Doing it all and Falling Short Again

Virat Kohli bossing a tournament and falling short is not new. He did in 2014, hitting 70s in the Semis and Finals, in the T20 World Cup. In the 2016 T20 World Cup he did the same. Carrying India to the Semi-Finals on the back of an incredible tournament. In 2022, a similar story with Virat Kohli once again leading the run-scoring charts.

In the IPL, Virat Kohli is not new to such heartbreaks, having faced them so many time with the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The World Cup though, and the biggest of the lot is likely to sit harder on him. With the current one bigger considering it could be the last time Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play together in a World Cup together, and probably the last time they play a World Cup in general, the stakes were high.

Virat Kohli, starting the tournament with a solid fifty against Australia was in incredible touch. In an eleven-game run, he went past 50 all but two times. Out of those 9 games, he went past a hundred thrice. His 765 is the highest tally by a player in a World Cup. He had the support of others this time, with Rahul, Iyer, and Rohit Sharma making significant contributions as well.

He came good at the biggest stage cricket can offer. In the Finals as well, Virat Kohli was shouldering the responsibility with a mini-collapse derailing the side. Despite some quick wickets, Kohli ensured that he stayed in and stuck to rotating strike. The boundaries dried up, but Virat Kohli did not let dot balls pile up from his end.

He looked threatening and with him in the middle, a score above 280 looked very possible. It spiraled away quickly though. Virat Kohli, chopping on for 55 silenced a massive crowd as the hopes of a nation were drowned. Looking solid against some good bowling and in tough conditions, Virat Kohli left the big stage.

He gave it his all. In the second innings, with wickets falling early, Virat Kohli was pumped and was pumping up the bowlers as well. Shades of vintage Virat Kohli were live when he had a stare-down with Marnus Labuschagne. After a tough loss, Virat Kohli could be back to his former self, with that aggression, especially after falling on the wrong side after doing it all.

He was man of the tournament in both the 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups. The ODI World Cup though is arguably a bigger stage. With 750+ Runs he lit it up. His pain though was evident during the presentation. Normally, there is a conversation with the player of the tournament after he picks up his award. Virat Kohli though silently took his and walked away, hurting and clearly feeling it. He has carried the team through and supported the team marvelously. Now, he stands waiting and hoping for another chance to take his side through.