Cricket icon Virat Kohli credits past ICC knockout match losses for paving the way for India’s recent major title win. Following their T20 World Cup victory last June, India secured their third Champions Trophy title on Sunday. Kohli praised the team effort of Rohit Sharma’s squad throughout the UAE tournament.
“It’s been a while since we won a Champions Trophy, and it’s a fantastic format. This was our goal. After a challenging tour in Australia, we came here and won a significant tournament, which has greatly boosted the team’s morale,” Kohli stated in an interview.
He added, “Throughout the competition, different players rose to the occasion in various matches. In previous tournaments, we sometimes struggled to close out games or capitalize on key moments. However, this time, we applied the lessons from those experiences.” Kohli highlighted the crucial role of experienced players Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in securing the final victory against New Zealand.
“That’s why it’s important to support experienced players – they’ve been in similar pressure situations before. When you utilize those learnings and put in the effort, you have the chance to turn things around,” Kohli explained.
“KL Rahul’s performance in the final two matches is a testament to the value of experience. When you’ve faced similar situations in the past and fallen short, there’s always a strong desire to seize the next opportunity and succeed. And that’s precisely what we accomplished.” India’s strategic team composition proved highly effective in the tournament. Their inclusion of five spin bowlers was particularly successful on the slower pitches in Dubai, with four spinners featuring in the playing eleven.
“Our consistent focus throughout the tournament was on our own strengths and abilities, rather than dwelling on the opposition. Despite the challenges, this is exactly why we play the sport – for these major tournaments,” Kohli concluded.
“Winning four ICC titles is truly a blessing, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have played for so long and achieved this,” said Kohli, who was also a part of India’s 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy-winning teams.
