Bridgetown, Barbados – April Fool’s Day came and went. On April 2, 2011, a young, chubby star of Indian cricket uttered some of his most famous words on a glorious night for the country.
After India won their second Cricket World Cup, Virat Kohli, then 22, carried Sachin Tendulkar, the son of the country’s most famous cricketer, on his shoulders as the players formed a circle of honour to thunderous applause at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium.
“Sachin Tendulkar has carried Indian cricket on his back for 21 years,” Kohli said, “so it was fitting that we carry him on our backs after this win.”
Among the many quotes uttered by Kohli, this one has stayed with him throughout his 15-year career.
It was a declaration made by India’s new hero in honour of his predecessor.
Other than the man now known as “King Kohli,” no one has ever come close to the deity status of the “Little Master,” and perhaps no one ever will.
But such respect comes with expectations, and after more than a decade of phenomenal feats in both the 50-over and T20 World Cups, Kohli finds himself in uncharted territory.
India are in the World Cup final but their superstar favourite is short on runs. Will India back Kohli all the way to the final in this ICC Men’s T20 World Cup?
He has scored just 75 runs in seven innings, including two ducks, and has been overshadowed by everyone else in India’s top-order batting order.
“Form is temporary, class is permanent.”
It’s a far cry from his exploits in the World Cups of the past decade, when India failed to improve their ranking in the summer tournament despite Kohli’s individual exploits taking them to the knockout stages.
The last time India reached a T20 World Cup final in 2014, he was the tournament’s leading run-scorer (319) but India fell short, with Sri Lanka winning the tournament.
Kohli was also leading the batting (765 runs) six months ago when India went into the 50-over World Cup final at home with hearts breaking as Australia won their sixth title.
Tendulkar is the only batsman to have scored more runs than Kohli in the 50-over World Cup – 2,278 to Kohli’s 1,795. And no batsman has scored more runs than Kohli’s 1,216 in the T20 version of the tournament, but Rohit Sharma, who currently has 1,211, may overtake him in Saturday’s final against South Africa at Kensington Oval.
There are many memorable innings – be it his 82 against Australia in the 2016 T20 World Cup, holding together India’s innings when they were in dire straits at Mohali or his century against Bangladesh at Mirpur in 2011.
In 2015, another century came against Pakistan.
In 2023, he scored hundreds against Bangladesh in Pune and South Africa in Kolkata. In the same tournament, he broke Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries in the semi-final against New Zealand in Mumbai.
And who can forget his unbeaten 82 runs off 53 balls against Pakistan in 2022? That check drive for six at the MCG is forever etched in the collective memory of cricket fans.
Kohli’s World Cup record is astounding and perhaps no one will ever beat it, so it’s no wonder his poor performance in this year’s tournament has been softened by those around him.
“Virat is a showpiece player for us, there’s no denying that,” India coach Rahul Dravid said at a press conference in Guyana before India leave for the Barbados final.
“He’s been through some tough times but we all know what level he’s at. Forms are temporary, levels are forever. I have no doubt that he will deliver when it matters most.”
“Virat’s huge contribution”
Former India batsman Deep Dasgupta believes the team’s embrace of more aggressive batting strategies this tournament, while accepting Kohli’s more modest runs, reflects a change in the cricketing psyche among Indians.
“I think that’s the difference between India in the past and India this time around,” Dasgupta told Al Jazeera on the eve of the final.
“He hasn’t scored as many runs as people expect but we as Indians are very hung up on individual numbers like fifties, hundreds and averages.
The former India opening batsman believes Kohli’s contribution to Indian cricket goes beyond just the numbers and that the extremely fit 35-year-old has transformed the culture of cricket in the country.
“Virat said, ‘Listen, it doesn’t matter what an individual does, it’s what the team does’ and he made a huge contribution.”
Dasgupta believes Kohli deserves more recognition than he has received so far.
“I am downplaying Virat’s contribution. He may not have scored as many runs but his batting is exactly what he and the team want.”
India captain and Kohli’s long-time opening partner Rohit Sharma has spoken on Kohli’s importance to the team on multiple occasions throughout the tournament.
“Virat is a good player. Any player can overcome the situation. [the lack of runs] “But we know his ability and his importance in these big matches,” Rohit said after India’s semi-final win over England on Thursday.
“When you play cricket for 15 years, form is never an issue. He is fit, motivated and probably saving his energy for the final.”
And if India do lift the trophy at Kensington Oval, no matter how many runs Kohli scores, it may be fitting that he will do a lap of honour on the shoulders of others, 13 years after lifting Tendulkar alone.
The last jewel is still missing from the King’s crown 👑
Virat Kohli is #T20WorldCup Glory 👀 pic.twitter.com/wmIBgrJHDU
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) June 28, 2024