Why Virat Kohli’s form is not a concern for India ahead of T20 World Cup final against South Africa – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar expressed that he is unconcerned about Virat Kohli’s current form, emphasizing instead the importance of overall team performance as the Indian cricket team prepares for the T20 World Cup final against South Africa on Saturday.

Since arriving for the marquee event, Kohli has been searching for runs, facing significant challenges in finding his rhythm. Despite his struggles, other Indian players have stepped up, powering the team into the final without a single defeat. Kohli’s performance has been notably below his usual standards, amassing only 75 runs at an average of 10.71 across seven matches.



Manjrekar acknowledges the importance of the collective team effort over individual performance.

“Not really concerned about Virat Kohli’s form because the team’s form is far more important,” Manjrekar, who features as an expert on ‘Caught and Bold’ show on Disney+ Hotstar, told ANI.

Manjrekar is optimistic about India’s chances of lifting the World Cup due to their new playing strategy.



“Of course, India can lift the World Cup 2024, India has discovered a new template, the modern template of playing T20 cricket, and it’s paying rich dividends so far,” Manjrekar stated.

The final will feature two unbeaten teams, India and South Africa, both having advanced without a single loss. Manjrekar assessed the potential threats posed by key South African players, noting the impact of their fast bowlers and top-order batsmen.



“I would say one of the fast bowlers, either Anrich Nortje or Rabada. In batting Quinton De Kock for sure,” Manjrekar added.

India’s journey to the final has been marked by a fearless approach under Rohit Sharma’s leadership. Manjrekar believes this newfound strategy could end India’s hiatus from ICC World Cup victories.