Why This T20 World Cup Proved Kohlis Absence Is Still Felt

For the first time in a decade of the T20 World Cup, India is without Virat Kohli. After winning the last edition, Kohli announced his retirement and someone else was expected to fill the gap he created. However, the loss against South Africa has proven that Virat Kohli is truly irreplaceable for the Indian team in the T20 World Cup.

The T20 World Cup 2026 has not been like the previous editions. After a long time, India is playing without its key T20 World Cup player, Virat Kohli. The man who is known as the Chase Master announced his retirement from this format after winning the T20 World Cup 2024. His retirement speech came just after India had won the game and Kohli got the POTM award.

Just a day after that game, a newspaper headline read, “In his final T20I game, Kohli shows what India will miss.” Fans may not have realised this for a long time, but they have realised it now after the loss against South Africa while chasing 187 runs. It even reminded the fans about three times when India chased above 150 in the T20 World Cup. Kohli remained the highest scorer and POTM in all these games.

India vs South Africa: T20 World Cup 2014

It was the semi-final clash of the T20 World Cup 2014. South Africa was batting first, and the team scored 172 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. Faf du Plessis scored 58 runs off 41 balls, while JP Duminy scored 45. David Miller gave a finishing touch by scoring 23 runs off 12, as Ashwin took 3 wickets for the Indian team.

Pic Source: ESPNcricinfo

Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane gave a good start, till Rohit got dismissed in the 4th over. Virat Kohli came to bat at number three, and got the much needed support from the other end. Ajinkya Rahane scored 32 runs, while Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina also contributed well in the partnerships. Raina was able to score 21 runs off 10 balls, which also came as a major boost.

But the key batsman in this massive run chase was Virat Kohli. He scored 72 runs off 44 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes, which helped India to chase the target with 5 balls remaining. It was the first time when India chased a target above 150 in the T20 World Cup, and Kohli won the POTM award in the same.

India vs Australia: T20 World Cup 2016

The Super 10 clash of the T20 World Cup 2016 saw another instance when India chased down 150+ run target. It was the clash against Australia and more like a do or die game. The match was being played at Mohali, and Australia was batting first in this game. Aaron Finch (43), Usman Khawaja (26), and Glenn Maxwell (31), helped Australia to score 160/6.

When it was time for India to chase, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan lost their wickets in the powerplay. Virat Kohli stayed constantly at the other end, while Suresh Raina also lost his wicket after scoring 10 runs off 7 balls. At this stage, Kohli received some help by Yuvraj Singh, who scored 21 runs off 18 deliveries.

Pic Source: ESPNcricinfo

But he took the major responsibility of the chase in his hands. Kohli alone scored 82 runs off 51 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes which helped India to get over the line. With Dhoni on the other end, India finished this chase with 5 balls and six wickets remaining, marching to the semi-final stages of the tournament.

India vs Pakistan: T20 World Cup 2022

And the last time when India achieved a chase above 150 runs, it was Virat Kohli who played the key role in the same. The clash was against the arch-rivals Pakistan in the group stages of the T20 World Cup 2022. Pakistan was batting first, as the team scored 159/8, with half-centuries from Shan Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed. Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya took 3 wickets each for the Indian team.

The start of the chase was troubling for the Indian team as usual. Just after the powerplay, India found itself at the score of 31/4, as Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya stood at the crease. Pandya went on to score 40 runs off 37 balls, giving the much-needed support to Kohli. India needed 48 runs off the last 3 overs, and Kohli stood at the score of 46 runs off 42 balls.

Pic Source: ESPNcricinfo

In the 18th over against Shaheen, he scored 15 runs alone, taking India close to the win. Then came the match-changing over of Haris Rauf, where he smashed two consecutive sixes to drop the equation to 16 runs off the last over. With Kohli scoring a six on a no-ball and running for byes, Ashwin finished the game well on the very last delivery to help India chase the target.