June 28th 2024.
In a recent press conference, India's head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma expressed their unwavering support for Virat Kohli, who has been struggling to find his form in the T20 World Cup finals against South Africa. Despite his impressive performance in the Indian Premier League, where he scored 741 runs, Kohli has been unable to make a significant contribution in the current tournament, with only 75 runs in seven innings.
Dravid, who has been closely observing Kohli's gameplay, acknowledged that playing a high-risk brand of cricket can sometimes lead to unfavorable outcomes. However, he was quick to point out that Kohli's intent and determination have been commendable. He also expressed his belief that a big knock is just around the corner for the stylish batter. "I don't want to jinx it, but I have a feeling that a big one is coming up. I just love his attitude and the way he is giving his all on the field. He truly deserves it," said Dravid.
Captain Rohit also showed his full faith in Kohli and assured that his current form is not a cause for concern. "When you have been playing cricket for 15 years, form is never a problem. I believe he is looking good and his intent is there. Maybe he is saving his best for the finals," Rohit stated confidently.
Rohit, who has been in top form himself with 248 runs and three fifties, has also become the first player to lead India in three ICC global event finals in the span of 12 months. Under his leadership, the team has been performing exceptionally well as a unit, and Dravid couldn't help but sing praises for the captain. "Words fall short when it comes to describing Rohit. The way he works with the team, his strategies, his maturity, and the team's response to him is just phenomenal. He is not only a great cricketer, but also a wonderful human being," Dravid said.
Reflecting on their recent victory against England in the semi-finals, Rohit pointed out the importance of adapting to different conditions. "I think we adapted really well to the challenging conditions. Our success in this tournament so far has been due to our ability to adapt. We have been doing it consistently," he explained.
As for their game plan, Rohit revealed that they had initially aimed for a target of 140-150 runs, but revised it to 170 after assessing the pitch and the opposition. He also praised his spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, who played a crucial role in the team's victory with six wickets between them. "They were very calm and knew exactly what to do. We had a chat before their bowling innings, and they executed our plan perfectly," Rohit said.
With the painful memory of their defeat in the ODI World Cup final still fresh, Rohit emphasized the importance of staying calm and making good decisions on the field. "We need to stay focused throughout the 40 overs and trust our instincts. In our last game, we remained calm and didn't panic, which helped us win. We will do our best in the finals and hope for another good performance from the team," he concluded.
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