Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli recalled the memories of winning the ODI World Cup in 2011 begin a youngster in the team during the time of World Cup and reckons that he didn’t realize the magnitude of winning the trophy during that time. The 34-year-old will make his fourth appearance in the mega event this year after winning it once in 2011 and making it into the semifinals in 2015 and 2019.
Kohli, considered to be one of the greatest batters in the modern era, is already a World Cup winner, winning the trophy in 2011 with the Indian team under the captaincy of MS Dhoni and also played a vital role in the Indian team in the 2013 champions Trophy-winning campaign and would look to put his best positive foot forward to win the World Cup in India after 12 long years.
Speaking at an event, Virat Kohli opened up on winning the mega event in 2011 being a young batter in the team and feels that he has realized the importance of the victory after playing so many World Cups for India after the 2011 World Cup and added that it was special for Sachin Tendulkar to win the mega event in home soil after serving the country for two decades or so.
“My career highlight is obviously winning the World Cup in 2011. I was 23 at the time, and I probably didn’t understand the magnitude of it. But now at 34, and has played many World Cups, which we haven’t been able to win, So, I understand the emotions of all the senior players (in 2011). All the more for Sachin Tendulkar, as it was his last World Cup. He had already played many World Cups by then and to win it in Mumbai, his hometown, was very special for him. I mean, it was stuff from dreams,” Virat Kohli said.
Team India will be aiming for the World Cup trophy to put an end to their protracted search for an ICC trophy after losing another WTC Final against Australia. The 2013 ICC Champions Trophy was the Men in Blue’s latest ICC trophy win, which occurred ten years ago under the leadership of legendary MS Dhoni.
The Senior Players Were Always Under The Pump And Had To Handle All That Pressure – Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli recollected the amount of pressure the players had during the 2011 ODI World Cup, as everyone was expecting the home team to win the Championship after 28 long years in 2011 and asserted that the senior players were under the pump to perform for the team at the highest level.
“I remember the amount of pressure there was on all the players when we were traveling, Thankfully, there were no social media back then. It would have been a nightmare, honestly. But through the airports, it was always just one thing — we needed to win the Cup. The senior players were always under the pump and had to handle all that pressure. It was just brilliant. And that night (after the WC win) in itself was something magical,” Virat Kohli added.
Virat Kohli has been in terrific form with the bat with centuries in all three formats since Asia Cup 2022 ending a drought of three years for a century and he will be crucial for the team’s success in the continental event and ODI World Cup later this year in India.