When Virat Kohli struck 76 runs from 59 balls against South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final, Indian bowlers "saved" him, according to former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar.

India beat South Africa by 7 runs to clinch an ICC Trophy after 11 years on Saturday (29th June). India posted a massive 176 on the board in the Final in Barbados. Virat Kohli's scintillating 76-run innings from 59 balls, Axar Patel’s 47 runs off 31 balls and some late blitz from Shivam Dube, who scored 27 off 16, helped India post 176. In reply, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh both bowled miraculous spells and Hardik Pandya kept his nerve cool in the most crucial moment to take India home by 7 runs.

In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar said that although the Proteas appeared certain to chase Kohli's 76-run blow, India's bowlers came to the rescue and helped the team win their first ICC championship since 2013.

"By playing that innings, Hardik Pandya, one of their most devastating batters, had just two balls to face. So I thought India's batting was good, but Virat Kohli had potentially played an innings that would've put India in a tight corner. And it almost proved to be that, before these guys' bowlers came in the end,” Manjrekar said.

He added that, given that Kohli batted with a strike rate of 128 and the bowlers unexpectedly won India the match, the player of the match would have been a bowler rather than the batter. "India were in a losing position, 90 percent winning chances [for South Africa]. The complete turnaround actually saved Virat Kohli's innings because he played virtually half the innings with a strike-rate of 128. My Player of the Match would've been a bowler because they actually took the game from the jaws of defeat and won it for India," Manjrekar added.