Mumbai: Virat Kohli rediscovered his form when it mattered most to help Team India recover from a horror start in the ICC T20 World Cup final against South Africa.
The former captain’s 76 (58 balls, 6×4, 2×6) helped India post 176/7 – the highest total in a T20 World Cup final.
The title clash began in dramatic fashion after Rohit Sharma won a crucial toss and opted for to bat first.
Kohli, with a highest score of 37 in the tournament before the final, started in breathtaking fashion as he hit three crisp boundaries in the first over bowled by Marco Jansen, which went for 15 runs.
Rohit then smashed two boundaries off the first two balls of the second over. But then, left-arm spinner had his say. He had Rohit caught at mid-wicket trying to slog-sweep off the fourth ball and then got Rishabh Pant (0) to sky a catch to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock off the final delivery.
From 23/2 in 2 overs, India plunged to 34/3 as Suryakumar Yadav (3) swung Kagiso Rabada straight to fine-leg fielder Heinrich Klaasen.
Kohli set about steadying the ship in the company of Axar Patel, who was promoted to No. 5.
The left-handed Axar struck 4 sixes and a four to compile an invaluable 47 off 31 balls in a 72-run fourth-wicket collaboration.
Kohli found another able ally in Shivam Dube (27 off 16), the two adding 57 runs.
Kohli, playing within himself after the early flurry of wickets, reached 50 off 48 balls before breaking loose and gathering 26 runs off his next 10 deliveries.
Brief scores
India 176/7 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 76, Axar Patel 47; Keshav Maharaj 2/23, Anrich Nortje 2/26) vs South Africa.
