Kohli's Mental Strength Key to India's T20 World Cup Win, Says Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma, reflecting on India's triumphant ICC Men’s T20 World Cup victory in Barbados, reminisced about Virat Kohli's pivotal half-century and his game-changing partnership with Axar Patel against South Africa.

Image: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli strategizing on the field.

"If you hit three boundaries in the first over, then obviously, you’ve started off well," Rohit stated, acknowledging the importance of a strong start. "And that’s exactly what every cricketer wants—it helps settle the nerves."

Rohit emphasized that Kohli's composure 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, scoring a crucial 76, and his vital partnership with Axar Patel proved decisive after India suffered early setbacks.

"When we lost those three wickets up front, there were definitely nerves inside the dressing room. I was panicking—I wasn't comfortable," Rohit confessed.

"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 specifically praised Axar Patel's game-altering 47 off 31 balls. "Not many people are talking about Axar’s knock, but that innings was a real game-changer. To score 47 off 31 balls at that stage was incredibly crucial."

The Indian captain commended Kohli for his anchor role, enabling the rest of the batting order to express themselves freely.

Image: A lighthearted moment during Team India's net session.

"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, a fitting T20 international farewell for both Rohit and Kohli, will be remembered for composure, experience, and teamwork, with Virat Kohli at the forefront, delivering when it mattered most.