"Will always be remembered as an icon": Sidhu praises Virat Kohli

Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu hailed Indian star Virat Kohli for his matchwinning knock in the finals of the T20 World Cup 2024After scoring 75 runs in the first seven innings of the T20 World Cup 2024 Virat Kohli played an important knock of 76 runs with 6 fours and 2 sixes in the finals He played with a strike rate of 12881 Riding on his knock India posted 176 runs on board against South AfricaLater the Proteas were restricted to 169 in the matchSpeaking on Star Sports Sidhu said about Virat When it mattered the most when 15 billion Indians were praying for victory and hoping that we do not choke at the final hurdle he stood like the rock of Gibraltar in the sea of ruins He kept one end intact and delivered the World Cup crown by performing when Indias ship was stuckSidhu noted that during the tournament Virat did not let the runrate drop even once and would be remembered as an icon and greatest inspiration following his T20I retirement In this tournament even when he scored 38 and 24 he didnt let the run rate drop There was a different kind of Virat Virat Kohli a man of adversity a man of masses a master performer a genius For me he will always be remembered as an icon as the greatest inspiration and above all a cup of joy for billions and billions who watch cricket all over he saidVirat Kohli ended the T20 World Cup 2024 with a total of 151 runs in eight innings with an average of 1887 and a strike rate of 11268 He also had one fifty to his nameAlso ReadRahul Dravid credits the Indian skipper for urging him to continue as head coach In 35 T20 World Cup matches Virat Kohli has scored 1292 runs at an average of 5872 and a strike rate of 12881 with 15 halfcenturies His best score is 89 He is the highest runscorer in the history of the tournamentIn 125 T20I matches Virat Kohli scored 4188 runs at an average of 4869 and a strike rate of 13704 He scored a century and 38 fifties and a best score of 122 He ends the format as the secondhighest rungetter of all timeComing to the T20 World Cup 2024 match India won the toss and opted to bat first After being reduced to 343 a counterattacking partnership between Virat 76 and Axar Patel 47 in 31 balls with one four and four sixes of 72 runs restored Indias position in the game A 57run stand between Virat and Shivam Dube 27 in 16 balls with three fours and a six took India to 1767 in their 20 oversKeshav Maharaj 223 and Anrich Nortje 226 were the top bowlers for SA Marco Jansen and Aiden Markram took a wicket eachIn the run chase of 177 runs Proteas was reduced to 122 and then a 58run partnership between Quinton de Kock 39 in 31 balls with four boundaries and a six and Tristan Stubbs 31 in 21 balls with three fours and a six brought back SA into the game A halfcentury by Heinrich Klaasen 52 in 27 balls with two fours and five sixes threatened to take the game away from India However Arshdeep Singh 218 Jasprit Bumrah 220 and Hardik 320 made a fine comeback in death overs keeping SA to 1698 in their 20 oversVirat secured the Player of the Match for his performance Now by securing their first ICC title since the Champions Trophy in 2013 India has ended their ICC trophy droughtWith ANI Inputs