Another record in Kohli's sights in meeting with South Africa's world-class attack
Kohli faces South Africa in Perth needing just 28 runs to overtake ICC Hall of Famer Mahela Jayawardena as the most prolific run-scorer across T20 World Cups, and could well race through the finishing tape if he emulates the success of earlier through the tournament.
Despite a lean trot earlier in the year, the 33-year-old found his groove in the Asia Cup and in the bilateral series leading up to the event against Australia and South Africa, and hit the ground running in the much-anticipated meeting with Pakistan at the MCG in front of over 90,000 people.
Highlights of Virat Kohli's all-time great knock against Pakistan | T20WC 2022
Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 53-ball 82* to help India secure an opening victory against Pakistan in their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 encounter.
A glowing embodiment of the modern athlete, Kohli's new comparisons are with sportspeople outside the game of cricket. Stringent in his diet, meticulous in his preparation, laser-sharp in focus, his results in a game so fickle defy belief.
“Fitness for me is probably more important than having cricket practice. I honestly feel that having a fit body makes you think better as well," Kohli said in the build-up to this year's event.
"So, it could help people in their work, sport, anything. When you’re fit, you just want to start your day well, look forward to doing a lot more, on an everyday basis rather than just dragging yourself through the day.”
India v South Africa Preview | Match 30 | T20WC 2022
At one stage averaging over fifty in all three formats - he currently averages 49.53 in Test cricket at this point in time to deny him for now - it is he mindset and clinical calculation that truly sets him apart.
Dubbed "Master of the Chase," the numbers in T20 World Cup chases force you to double take.
In chases across the five T20 World Cup campaigns, Kohli has made 541 runs at a strike rate of 135.92. Dismissed only twice in his ten knocks, Kohli’s latest match-winning chase means his average has soared to a boggling 270.50. Outside of a 2* against Scotland coming in at the end of their winning chase in 2021, Kohli’s lowest score is 23 (27) in Nagpur back in 2016.
Ian Smith raved about Kohli after his miraculous chase against Pakistan on The ICC Review.
"He's a genius, the way he plays, and he's a genius in the way he's worked the game out. And he's a genius in that he knows exactly what to do, when to do it, and when to push the go button," Kiwi great Smith said.
"When he finished, we had shots of him kneeling down and punching the pitch surface, punching it to relieve the pressure on himself."
India v South Africa Preview | Match 30 | T20WC 2022
As for Kohli's record chase, a failure against South Africa may just be delaying the inevitable, but the Proteas don't intend on helping with the formalities.
Staring in the face of Kohli is a super South African bowling attack, led by the lethal Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, and complimented by a number of fast-bowling options, and two spin threats of Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj.
When asked on Kohli's form, and the record beckoning, Nortje re-iterated South Africa's primary focus: to continue on their winning ways after a thumping win over Bangladesh.
"(We're) focused on what we have to do. That's all," he noted.