“Cometh the hour, cometh the man.” These words from Dinesh Karthik summed up the mood of a billion hearts perfectly as Virat Kohli rose once again under pressure, scripting a match-winning knock in the 2024 T20 World Cup Final that will go down as one of the greatest performances in cricketing history. For a player whose career has been defined by performing when it matters the most, Kohli’s masterclass in the final was a fitting tribute to his legacy—and the perfect climax to India’s long wait for an ICC trophy.
India had not won a World Cup in any format since the Champions Trophy in 2013. The hunger and the heartbreak had grown year after year, especially with several near-misses, including the painful ODI World Cup final loss in 2023. As the team marched into the T20 final in Barbados, the weight of expectations was heavier than ever. South Africa, an in-form side seeking their maiden title, looked poised to spoil the party. But as he has done so often, Kohli rose to the occasion, soaking in the pressure and delivering a performance for the ages.
Walking in during a shaky start, Kohli began cautiously, respecting the conditions and the bowlers. India had lost wickets early, and the pitch wasn’t easy to bat on. Yet, with his experience and temperament, Kohli anchored the innings beautifully. He constructed his knock brick by brick, rotating strike, picking gaps, and only unleashing his signature strokeplay once he was well set. His 76-run innings was not only a display of supreme skill but of mental toughness and timing.
What stood out was Kohli understanding of the moment. India didn’t need a flashy hundred. They needed a mature, calculated innings that could stabilise the middle and set the foundation for a defendable total. And that’s exactly what he delivered. Every run was earned, every stroke well judged. It wasn’t his most flamboyant innings, but it was one of his most important—and it came in a World Cup final, when others struggled to cope with the pressure.
Karthik’s words after the match echoed what the cricketing world witnessed. “Cometh at the hour, cometh at the man. Virat Kohli was the man who did it for India in the 2024 T20 World Cup Final. And India lifted the World Cup after 11 years,” he said, capturing the sentiment that this wasn’t just about winning a match—it was about ending a generation-long drought.
Kohli, who had announced before the tournament that this would likely be his last T20 World Cup, couldn’t have chosen a more poetic farewell. Lifting the trophy, embraced by his teammates and cheered by an emotional crowd, he looked content, as if this was the moment he had been chasing for years.
In every sport, there are legends who define eras, who rise when the lights are brightest. For Indian cricket, that man is Virat Kohli. And on the grandest T20 stage of all, in a final that could have gone either way, he stood tall, composed, and determined—delivering one last time to bring glory to his team and his nation.
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