WATCH | Mohammad Kaif Foresees Virat Kohli as Potential Hero in T20 World Cup 2024 Final

June 29, 2024 0 699

Mohammad Kaif believes Virat Kohli, akin to MS Dhoni’s turnaround in the 2011 ODI World Cup final despite a quiet tournament, has a significant opportunity to shine in the T20 World Cup 2024 final.

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has expressed confidence in Virat Kohli’s potential to excel in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa, despite Kohli’s modest performance of 75 runs in seven matches so far. Kaif, citing similarities with MS Dhoni’s transformation in the 2011 ODI World Cup final, emphasized that Kohli has the ability to play on merit rather than resorting to slogging, as evidenced by his impactful century against South Africa in a past ODI World Cup.

“Virat Kohli needs to remember that even Dhoni didn’t have a great World Cup in 2011 but he found form in the final. Small suggestion: He is too good a player to slog, he can play ball on merit and dominate any bowling attack,” he said.

Kaif then encouraged Kohli to draw inspiration from his previous successes and approach the final with a mindset geared towards playing disciplined cricket shots, echoing Dhoni’s memorable final innings that turned around his form in the crucial match.

“Mahendra Singh Dhoni was out of form in 2011 ODI World Cup. He played an unbeaten 91-run knock in the final. His six over long on off Kulasekara is etched in everybody’s mind. That’s why I think Virat Kohli has a great chance to become a hero. He must forget that he is in poor form. He had hit a century when India last played South Africa in the ODI World Cup at Eden Gardens. He was brilliant that day and played very well but he wasn’t slogging that day but was playing the ball on merit with proper cricket shots,” he added.

Virat Kohli needs to remember that even Dhoni didn't have a great World Cup in 2011 but he found form in the final. Small suggestion: He is too good a player to slog, he can play ball on merit and dominate any bowling attack. pic.twitter.com/OumwDIO7nP
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) June 28, 2024

“So I think in the final, he should play the ball on merit with proper cricket shots, he should not slog by exposing his wickets, he’s a great player. Players like Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav should play fast and Virat Kohli should play till the end the full 20 overs and the play the ball on merit. He’s a big match player and has the chance to become a hero just like Dhoni who was not in form in the 2011 ODI World Cup but when the big match came he played a match-winning unbeaten knock and Virat Kohli can do the same in this match,” Kaif concluded.

India will face South Africa in the final on Saturday, June 29th, at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.