Sanjay Manjrekar believes Kohli did not deserve the POTM in the T20I WC Final

Team India won the T20 World Cup 2024. The Men in Blue remained unbeaten throughout the marquee event and defeated the Proteas in the final match to clinch their second T20I WC title after 11 years. The bowlers were in ret form, especially in the death overs.

Heinrich Klaasen, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Virat Kohli were the best performers in the finals. Kohli scored the most (76 runs off 59 balls) from the Indian front helping the Asian side post a total 176 runs at a loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs. 

Virat Kohli was named the Player of the Match. Yet, the ex-Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar was unhappy with the decision. 

Manjrekar stated that the POTM award should have been a fast bowler as Kohli’s splendid innings was at stake and saved by the sensational display of the Indian bowlers in the second innings.

“Virat Kohli’s knock almost put India under pressure. But the bowlers came to the rescue of the team,” Manjrekar expressed.

“India almost lost the match with 90 percent winning chances for South Africa. The complete change in the death overs saved Virat Kohli’s knock because he scored his runs at a strike rate of 128. My Player of the Match would’ve been a bowler (pacer) because they actually won the contest for the team,” he concluded.

Hardik Pandya picked up three scalps while Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh added two wickets apiece.