Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two of India's most prolific cricketers, have been the backbone of the Indian cricket team for over a decade. Their exceptional batting skills and consistent performances have won them accolades and established them as modern-day legends of the game. However, even the best have their off days, and this holds true for Kohli and Sharma as well. In this article, we will delve into three ICC knockout games where these two stalwarts failed to deliver together, focusing on their rare failures rather than their numerous successes.
ICC World T20 2016 Semi-Final - India vs. West Indies:
In
the ICC World T20 2016 semi-final against the West Indies, India had a
formidable batting lineup, led by Kohli and Sharma. However, their
partnership did not flourish on this particular day. Kohli, who had been
in exceptional form throughout the tournament, was dismissed for just 1
run. Sharma, too, failed to make an impact, scoring a mere 43 runs.
India fell short of the target by 7 wickets, bringing an end to their
World T20 campaign. The simultaneous failure of Kohli and Sharma
contributed significantly to India's loss in this crucial knockout
encounter.
ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Final - India vs. Pakistan:
The ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final was a high-stakes clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan. Chasing a target of 339, India's top-order crumbled under the pressure, with both Kohli and Sharma falling early. Kohli was dismissed for just 5 runs, while Sharma managed only 0. Their failures dealt a severe blow to India's chances, and the team eventually lost the match by 180 runs. It was a rare occasion where the Indian batting duo failed to fire together, leaving the team and their fans disappointed.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Semi-Final - India vs. New Zealand:
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 semi-final was a highly anticipated match, with India facing New Zealand. Batting first, India found themselves in a precarious position, losing Sharma early for just 1 run. Kohli, too, failed to anchor the innings and was dismissed for 1 as well. Their dismissals proved costly, as India could only muster 221 runs in their 50 overs. New Zealand chased down the target with relative ease, winning by 18 runs. Once again, the simultaneous failures of Kohli and Sharma in a knockout game had a detrimental impact on India's chances.
The instances discussed above shed light on the rare occasions when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two pillars of Indian cricket, failed to perform together in crucial ICC knockout games. While they have numerous successes to their names, these three games remind us that even the best players can have off days, and cricket remains an unpredictable sport. However, it is essential to acknowledge that Kohli and Sharma's failures in these matches were just a small fraction of their overall contribution to the team's success. They have provided countless match-winning performances and continue to be the backbone of the Indian cricket team.
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