‘I felt underconfident...’ - Virat Kohli pours his heart out in chat with PM Modi

Veteran batter Virat Kohli poured his heart out in a chat with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (July 4) in New Delhi. Kohli, who won the Player of the Match for his brilliant 76 in the T20 World Cup Final against South Africa, revealed he felt underconfident heading into the title match. However, just after he struck three fours off the first four balls, Kohli went to his Captain and non-striker, Rohit Sharma, saying ‘what a game this is.’

Kohli is a clutch player, having achieved unthinkable countless times in world cricket. 

For Kohli to overcome his below-par form this time, he needed a crunch situation, and what’s better than a grand finale? 

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Speaking to PM Modi, Kohli said he loved every moment he lived in that final and will cherish the victory forever. Kohli continued that while he felt he wasn’t contributing to the team’s results in the lead-up to the final, head coach Dravid’s words gave him the confidence needed.

"I will always cherish that day (of the final). Throughout the tournament, I was not able to make the contributions that I wanted to make. At one time, I told Rahul bhai, 'I haven't done justice to myself and the team till now'. He said, 'When the situation will arise, I trust that you will perform', Kohli said. 

"The way my tournament was going, I didn't have that much confidence when I was going in to play. Had doubts whether I would be able to perform the way I wanted. When we went in to play (in the final), and when I got three boundaries in the first four balls, I told Rohit, 'What a game this is. One day, you feel you won't be able to score a single run, and the other day, everything falls into place, and good things happen', Kohli continued.

Surrendering to the situation

A veteran like Kohli has been in the position he was in the final multiple times in his career and knew what exactly he needed to do to get back into form and deliver for the team on D-Day.

“When wickets fell early, I understood that I had to surrender to the situation, for the team. The only thing I was focussing on was what's necessary for the team. I felt I was pushed into that zone. I was into that moment.”

“Later, I realised that whatever is supposed to happen, it happens. It was bound to happen to me and to the team (title win). From the situation we won the final, we lived each and every single delivery towards the end. From the point where the final turned around. What was going through us, we cannot explain,” Kohli concluded. 

Meanwhile, Kohli won his first ICC T20 World Cup title, winning three ICC trophies to date – all in white-ball cricket. 

Just after India clinched the title, Kohli announced his T20I retirement. Rohit and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also decided to step aside from the shortest format. 

(With inputs from agencies)