IND vs SA T20 WC Final: Virat Kohli prays seconds before start of match, hits three boundaries in first over

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IND vs SA T20 WC Final: Virat Kohli shrugged off his poor run in the T20 World Cup 2024 with three boundaries in the first over against South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

The former India captain, who had scored just 75 runs at an average of 10.71 from seven innings before the final, was seen praying second before the start of the match. The 35-year-old got on his knees near the wicket and closed his eyes for some ten seconds to remember the almighty.

After Rohit Sharma picked a single on the first ball, Virat Kohli smashed two back-to-back boundaries off left-arm pacer Marco Jansen. He drove the first ball through point, flicked the second one through leg for a boundary.

Kohli took a double on the fourth delivery and followed it with a dot before a straight drive for four. India collected 15 runs from the first over courtesy the cracking start from Kohli.

IND vs SA T20 WC Final: India batting collapse in powerplay

However, the happiness was short lived as India lost three quick wickets soon. Keshav Maharaj dismissed Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant in the second over, and Kagiso Rabada struck in the fifth over with the wicket of Suryakumar Yadav.

India are looking to end their 11-year-old title drought for an ICC trophy. They lost the ODI World Cup final last year. On the other hand, South Africa are in their first World Cup final. Earlier, India won the toss and elected to bat first. India and South Africa are both unchanged for the title clash.