2008 was Virat Kohli international debut. He was hailed as a potential superstar, and 15 years later, he has cemented his status as an undisputed icon in the sport of cricket. During the ODI World Cup, which starts on October 5 with an England versus New Zealand matchup in Ahmedabad, he will be one of India’s go-to players.
The Delhi hitter recently discussed his participation in the 2011 ODI World Cup, which was co-hosted by Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India. The “Men in Blue” persevered throughout the tournament under the shrewd direction of MS Dhoni, ending their 28-year wait for a World Cup victory. At the time, Kohli, who was only 23 years old, stated he was unable to comprehend the significance of the accomplishment.
Virat Kohli, however, can relate to how the senior players felt following the 2011 victory because he has since missed out on winning two ODI World Cups and five T20 World Cups.
“Obviously, the 2011 World Cup victory is my career high point. I probably didn’t realize the gravity of it at the time because I was only 23. However, I can understand the sentiments of all the older players (in 2011) because I am 34 years old and have participated in numerous World Cups that we haven’t been able to win. More so for Sachin Tendulkar, who was playing in his final World Cup. Even though he had already competed in several World Cups, it was still tremendously significant for him to win it in Mumbai, where he was born. At a Bengaluru promotional event, Kohli remarked, “I mean, that was stuff from fantasies.
During the 2011 World Cup, the veteran players were constantly stressed out: Virat Kohli
The 34-year-old mentioned the intense pressure the senior players had at the 2011 World Cup since supporters were continually asking them to bring the title home. Kohli also recalled how beautiful the Mumbai finals night in which India triumphed over Sri Lanka was.
“I recall the amount of pressure that was placed on all of the players while we were traveling. Thankfully, social media didn’t exist then. In all honesty, that would have been a nightmare. However, through the airports, there was only ever one thought: we must win the Cup. The veteran players had to manage all that pressure while being constantly under strain. It was simply amazing. Additionally, that evening (after the WC victory) was fantastic in and of itself, said Kohli.
On September 2, when India plays Pakistan in Pallekele for the Asia Cup, fans may watch “King Kohli” in action.
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