Sanjay Manjrekar believes bowlers ‘saved’ Virat Kohli in T20 World Cup final
The former Indian batter argued that Kohli’s Player of the Match award was not justified
Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar stated that Indian bowlers “saved” Virat Kohli in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa where the right-handed batter scored 76 runs on 59 balls.
India managed to post a 177-run target for Aiden Markram’s side in Barbados and their pacers managed to snatch the victory from the jaws of defeat in the last five overs with Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya starring with the ball.
Manjrekar, while talking to ESPN Cricinfo, stated that Kohli’s 76-run knock put India in trouble as the Proteas looked sure to chase it but their bowlers saved the day and helped to win their first ICC trophy since 2013.
"By playing that innings, Hardik Pandya, one of their most devastating batters, had just two balls to face. So I thought India's batting was good, but Virat Kohli had potentially played an innings that would've put India in a tight corner. And it almost proved to be that, before these guys' bowlers came in the end,” Manjrekar said.
He also stated that his Player of the Match would have been a bowler instead of Kohli as he batted with a strike rate of 128 while the bowlers won India the final out of nowhere.
"India were in a losing position, 90 percent winning chances [for South Africa]. The complete turnaround actually saved Virat Kohli's innings because he played virtually half the innings with a strike-rate of 128. My Player of the Match would've been a bowler because they actually took the game from the jaws of defeat and won it for India," Manjrekar added.
India became the third team after West Indies and England to win the T20 World Cup two times under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, who announced his retirement from T20Is after lifting the elusive title.
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