Kohli's Composure Key to T20 Victory: Rohit Sharma Praises Veteran's Mental Strength

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (ICC Photo)

Rohit Sharma has reflected on Virat Kohli's mental strength during India's historic win over South Africa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Sharma recalled Kohli’s pivotal half-century and his crucial partnership with Axar Patel, emphasizing the significance of experience in high-pressure situations.

"If you hit three boundaries in the first over, then obviously, you’ve started off well," Sharma noted, highlighting the importance of a strong start in settling nerves during a final.

For Sharma, Kohli’s composure under pressure was a testament to his extensive experience playing for India. "The experience of playing for India over so many years also helps in those moments," he explained. "You learn to control your emotions, manage your thoughts, and stay in the present. I’m sure even he (Virat) was thinking, ‘Today is the day—I need to stay focused and not worry about what happened in the past.’"

Kohli’s anchored innings of 76 and his partnership with Axar Patel were crucial after India suffered an early loss of three wickets. "When we lost those three wickets up front, there were definitely nerves inside the dressing room. I was panicking—I wasn't comfortable," Sharma admitted.

He also acknowledged the contribution of the lower middle order: "But in the back of my mind, I always had belief in our lower middle order—positions 5, 6, 7, and 8. They hadn’t batted much in the tournament, but whenever they got the opportunity, they made it count."

Sharma gave special praise to Axar Patel, whose 47 off 31 balls shifted the game's momentum. "Not many people are talking about Axar’s knock, but that innings was a real game-changer," he said. "To score 47 off 31 balls at that stage was incredibly crucial."

The Indian captain lauded Kohli for his anchor role, which allowed other batsmen to play with greater freedom. "We needed someone to bat through the innings, and Virat did that job perfectly. It was really important for someone to anchor the innings, and he did it brilliantly. That allowed Shivam, Axar, and Hardik to come in and play their roles with freedom—and that’s exactly what they did."

The final at Kensington Oval became a memorable farewell from T20 internationals for both Rohit and Kohli, showcasing composure, experience, and teamwork, with Virat Kohli delivering when India needed him the most.