Virat Kohli was generous in his praise of his teammates, acknowledging their key contributions to India's four-wicket win over Australia in Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal. Despite himself playing a match-winning knock against Australia, he gave credit to Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer, for their individual performances which were instrumental in India's thrilling win, that also sealed their spot in Champions Trophy final. He recognised the collective effort and the importance of each player's contribution in achieving the team's success.
Virat Kohli credits KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer for India's win over Australia
Kohli delivered a masterful knock in the Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia in Dubai. The seasoned Indian batter drew upon his vast experience to navigate a challenging run chase of 265. Kohli's innings not only rescued India from a precarious position but also helped them finish on the winning side.
"As a team, you feel really great when people keep stepping up through an innings. When it's a team victory, it feels amazing. Hardik (Pandya) hit those two crucial shots at a nervous point for us," Kohli said in an interview with BCCI.
"KL (Rahul) batted outstandingly to close the game off. Shreyas (Iyer) had a great partnership with me. For us, it's the all-round effort that counts. People are in a great space and then you qualify for the final. You've a couple of days off, everything to look forward to," Kohli added.
Kohli then talked about his hunger to score runs for his team. He shared insights into his game plan and the meticulous preparation he undertakes for high-stakes matches like the semi-final against Australia.
In a post-match interview with the BCCI, Kohli was asked about the foundation of his success. He attributed his consistent performance to his sheer enjoyment of batting and his unwavering commitment to hard work. He explained that he simply focuses on putting his head down and dedicating himself to the task at hand.
"I just love playing this game. I just love batting. As long as the joy of batting and the love for batting is alive, all the other things can take care of themselves You're not going to a desperate situation and put your head down, thank God, and just keep working towards what the team wants. More often than not, you'll have results like these," Kohli concluded.
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