Virat Kohli Reveals Rahul Dravid's Faith Fueled His World Cup Heroics

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the triumphant Indian T20 World Cup-winning team in New Delhi on Thursday, where star batter Virat Kohli shared his insights on his remarkable performance in the tournament.

Kohli, who was adjudged 'Player of the Match' for his match-winning 76-run knock in the final, had endured a lean patch before the title clash, scoring just 75 runs in the tournament. However, he rose to the occasion when it mattered most, guiding India to victory in Barbados.

During his interaction with PM Modi, Kohli expressed his gratitude to head coach Rahul Dravid for his unwavering faith in him, even when his confidence was at its lowest. "I told Rahul Dravid bhai that I hadn't done justice to the team and myself so far," Kohli revealed. "But he told me that when the opportunity arrives, I am sure you will perform."

Kohli admitted that he lacked confidence before the final, but a blistering start with three boundaries in the first over gave him a much-needed boost. "I told Rohit [Sharma] that I don't have enough confidence," he said. "But when I got those boundaries, I felt like something was happening."

With India losing early wickets in the final, Kohli's focus shifted to surrendering himself to the team's cause. "My only focus was to surrender myself to the team and focus on what's best for the team," he said. "I felt that I was thrown into the situation. It's hard to explain the feeling. Some things are bound to happen."

Kohli's match-winning knock was a fitting end to a tournament that had been a rollercoaster of emotions for him. "It was a fairytale end for me in the tournament," he said. "Especially with the way I batted after India had lost early wickets."

Despite his retirement from T20I cricket, Kohli emphasized that he will continue to play the longer formats. "I am still hungry to play for India in Tests and ODIs," he said. "I want to contribute to the team's success in any way I can."

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