Kohli's Composure Under Pressure: Sharma Credits Mental Fortitude for Key Innings

Rohit Sharma has lauded Virat Kohli's mental strength and composure under pressure, recalling the defining moments of India's historic T20 World Cup victory over South Africa. He specifically pointed to Kohli's crucial half-century and his game-changing partnership with Axar Patel.

Reflecting on the high-stakes start to the final, Sharma noted the importance of a strong opening. "If you hit three boundaries in the first over, then obviously, you’ve started off well," he said. "And that’s exactly what every cricketer wants—it helps settle the nerves."

Sharma emphasized that Kohli's ability to maintain poise under pressure stemmed from his extensive experience representing India. “The experience of playing for India over so many years also helps in those moments. 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, featuring a match-defining 76, proved pivotal after India lost three quick wickets. His partnership with Axar Patel steadied the ship and shifted the momentum.

“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 further added, “I remember thinking, ‘We’ve let them into the game.’ 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 singled out Axar Patel for special praise, acknowledging his game-changing 47 off 31 balls. “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 also lauded Kohli for his anchor role, which allowed the rest of the batting lineup to express themselves freely. “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, marking a fitting T20 international farewell for both Rohit and Kohli, is etched in memory as a testament to composure, experience, and teamwork, with Virat Kohli at the forefront, delivering when India needed him most.