The T20 World Cup 2024 ultimate continues to provide matters of debate. India’s victory towards South Africa wasn’t a simple one, with the bowlers’ late heroics pulling the staff again into the sport. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh’s demise bowling rescued India from a state of affairs the place South Africa wanted simply 30 runs from 30 balls to win the match. However, the Indian staff finally emerged triumphant by 7 runs, due to the bowling trio. Nonetheless, the Participant of the Match went to Virat Kohli, a lot to the shock of former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar.

In a post-match present on ESPNCricinfo, Manjrekar steered that Kohli’s knock of 76 runs off 59 balls put India in a spot of trouble earlier than the tempo bowlers got here to the rescue. Manjrekar additionally mentioned that his alternative for the Participant of the Match would’ve been an Indian bowler, not Kohli.

“By enjoying that innings, Hardik Pandya, one in every of their most devastating batters, had simply two balls to face. So I assumed India’s batting was good, however Virat Kohli had doubtlessly performed an innings that will’ve put India in a good nook. And it virtually proved to be that, earlier than these guys’ bowlers got here ultimately.

“India have been in a dropping place, 90 % profitable possibilities (for South Africa). The entire turnaround really saved Virat Kohli’s innings as a result of he performed nearly half the innings with a strike-rate of 128. My Participant of the Match would’ve been a bowler as a result of they really took the sport from the jaws of defeat and received it for India,” Manjrekar mentioned.

Former Zimbabwe cricketer, Andy Flower, nonetheless, had a barely completely different perspective. Based on him, India had finished sufficient with the bat by placing a complete of 176 runs on the board. However, he did admit that had Rohit Sharma‘s males misplaced the match, Kohli would’ve courted loads of criticism.

“If India had been pipped there, there would’ve been lots of criticism going Virat Kohli’s method, I might reckon. On the midway mark, I assumed India had sufficient, and that it was going to be a really tough chase for South Africa,” he mentioned.