Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a candid interaction with the T20 World Cup 2024 champion Team India during a breakfast he hosted for them upon their arrival from Barbados to New Delhi on July 4. From sharing jokes to making detailed observations about India's T20 World Cup 2024 run, the Prime Minister showcased his knowledge of the game while praising Rohit Sharma's men for their triumphant campaign. During the breakfast at his residence in New Delhi, PM Modi spoke to each player of the T20 World Cup-winning team. While talking to Virat Kohli, the Prime Minister inquired about the star batter's 'up-and-down form' in the T20 World Cup and noted how he scored more runs in the final than he had in the previous seven matches.
During the conversation, PM Modi asked Virat about his batting battles during the T20 World Cup 2024.
"Virat tell me, the battle this time was full of ups and downs," PM Modi asked.
Kohli opened up on the incident and admitted things were not turning out the way he wanted in the T20 World Cup. Whatever he was trying to do, it wasn't working out.
"Jo bhi main karne ki koshish kar raha tha wo ho nahi paa raha tha. Mujhe laga ki jab aap apni taraf se itni koshish karte hain aur aapko lagta hai ki main kar doonga, toh wo kahin na kahin aapka ahankaar aage aa jata hai aur phir khel aapse door chala jata hai. (Literal translation - Whatever I was trying to do, it wasn't working out. I felt that when you put in so much effort and you think that you will accomplish it, somewhere your ego comes in the way, and then the game slips away from you.)
“And I told Rahul Bhai at one point that I have not given justice to myself and the team yet. So he told me that when the situation comes, I have faith that you will perform. So this conversation was between us and when we went to play, I told Rohit first because the tournament I had gone to, I did not have that much confidence when I was going to play inside that,” Virat added.
PM Narendra Modi emphasised that the support of the people and the belief they place in an individual can become a crucial driving force at critical moments.
"Everybody was feeling it. You had scored 75 in total (before the final) and in the final (76). There is reward when you have the backing of everyone. It becomes a driving force," PM Modi further said.
Virat Kohli's performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup was underwhelming prior to the final. He had only managed to score a total of 75 runs across the first seven matches. However, the star batsman rose to the occasion in the crucial final against South Africa, which was played in Barbados on Saturday, June 29th. Kohli played a match-winning innings, scoring 76 runs off just 59 balls. This knock was instrumental in helping India set a competitive total of 176 runs on the board. South Africa's chase for the target was promising, and they looked like they might pull off the victory until the 15th over. However, India managed to restrict them and eventually win the match by 7 runs.
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