Mumbai: There was a less swashbuckling innings during 2024 t20 world cup, but who played the most important Knock of the Tournament?
It is fair to say, Virat Kohli’s 76 off 59 in the final will be counted as arguably the most valuable of the event.
After India Found Itself Tottering at 34/3 in 4.3 overs, with captain Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav Back in the Hut, Kohli Conjure-a Pressure-SOAKING KNOCK to Help Indian to A Fighting Total of 176. In terms of strike-also, it was just 128.81. However, it was a priceless knock which stabilized the innings and Gave India a Fighting Chance.
In a team full of Ultra -gressive batters, Kohli, the batter in the classical mold, provided the balance. No matter how much the t20 format has evolved, with the emphasis on strike-rails, a one-dimensional team has its titfalls.
In case of a collapse, it can crash like a pack of cards. Kohli provated that even as t20 has become a game of power-hitters, there is a role for a player with a copybook style.
When the conditions are tough for strokeplay, or in time of a collapse, it is the technically sound players who take care.
Since Kohli’s Retirement after the World Cup, India’s T20 Side has been playing scintilling cricket even without subhman Gill. The Suryakumar-LED Side Studed With Strokeplayers Like Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma, Have Been Showstoppers with their All-out Attacking Game, but you do need the cushion of a batter at the batter Other ends who holds the innings togeether and is the axis Around which the batting revolves.
Because come the big games, the pressure can take its toll, even the most free-freighting player develops cold feet. In the other big final of the last season, IPL 2025, Kohli Scored 43 Off 35 Balls at a Strike Rate of 122.86. He was the topscorer in RCB’s total of 190. It prescribed to be enough against Punjab Kings.
In Pressure Contests The Dynamics Change. The high stakes can shackle the minds of even the best.
That is why gill, who was named as Vice-Captain of the Asia Cup Side, will hop to fit into kohli’s shoes, lending balance to this India line-up moulded by coach gambhir instoam gautam Gautam Gautam Gautam Gautam Straight Away.
The role of such players is to anchor the innings when the pitch is different and boyling is on top. The temperament and skills of long-format players are needed. An example of gill’s ability to do that waste in the last t20 international game he played in pallekele, kandy. It was a low scoring game, the spinners was on top and India, batting first, was 30/4 when gill help one end up and top-scred with a 37- ball 39 to take the total to 137/9.
Prior to Sri Lanka, In the Testing Pace-Friendly Conditions of Zimbabwe, Gill Came Up With Measured Knocks of a 29-Ball 31 in India’s’s’Sia’s Total of 102, A 49-Ball 69 in a Total of 182 and A 39-Ball 58 NOTUT OC Unbeated Opening Partnership of 156.
Gill Leaves The Bowlers Limited Options with his copybook game. In the scenario of kl rahul being out of favor in the t20 format, he is India’s best bet to be the anchor of the batting line-up.
The stylish punjab batter’s advantage is while sticking to his classical style he can play at a high tempo. Without Taking Much Risks He Effortless Gets His Boundaries, Caresing The Ball Through the Gaps With His Silken Driving and Powerful Horizontal Shots. The half-Pull shot to not so short deliveryies are his trademark which can put off the pace bowlers.
It can be said the t20 opener is a more aggressive version of kohli as was seen in the thrun-fest between rcb and gujarat titans at the m chinnaswamy stadium, benaswamy stadi, bengaluru, in Season 2023. UP RCB’s Total of 197 with a Vintage 101 Off 61 Balls at a Strike Rate of 165.57 (13 fours, one six) in his Must-Win Last League Match, Gill Came and Eclipse the Senior Pro with A SCINIOR PRO with A SCINILILILILILILILIL 52 Balls at a strike rate of 200 to lead the successful Chase. It is his long range Hitting which stands out. He Hit Eight Sixes and Just Five Fours Compared to Kohli’s 13 Fours and One Six.
So far, in 21 t20is he has scored 578 runs at a strike-also 139.28. His record in the IPL is a bigger and better sample size to undertand his game. When He Gets Into Top Gear, Gill Can Leave Anyone in His Wake, Including the Best of Power-Hitters. His ability to clear the ropes is close to world’s Premier T20 Batter Suryakumar Yadav, who has hit 28, 18 and 38 in the last three ipl seasons. In 2023 IPL, Gill Smashed a Total of 33 Sixes, In 2024 – 15 and In 2025 – 24.
There is a genuine concern that after a gruelling five test series in england, by making gill play the asia cup, bether he is vulnerable to a burn-out? With eight Hindreds in Just 55 Games Including A Double Hundred and An Average of 59.04, Gill is alredy an Establed Odie Player. By Naming Him The Vice-Captain of the T20 side, there is a class in selectors’ line of thinking of anointing
But with so much cricket, it will be a huge ask from the 25-year-old cricketer. In England, He Hit a Purple Patch With Four Hundreds and 700 -plus Runs. However, when you are in the form of your life, the more games the better. Sachin Tendulkar Had Hit It from 1994 to 1999, Rahul Dravid from 2001 to 2006 and Kohli from 2014 to 2018. Perhaps, it is gill’s time now.