Virat Kohli opens about India's World Cup semi-final exit against New Zealand

India’s semi-final exit at the hands of New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales is still a hard pill to swallow. A game which lasted two days, resulted in an 18-run defeat, ending India’s hopes of a World Cup victory under skipper Virat Kohli.

Opening up about that bitter memory of falling short in a World Cup semi-final, Virat Kohli talked with India Today and explained how his ego might have come in between victory and defeat for the Indians. With a strong batting record, while chasing targets, Kohli has thought that the battle was already won before he entered the field. He stated:

“Do I get affected by failures. Yes, I do. Everyone does. At the end of the day, I know my team would need me. I had the feeling so strong in my heart that I am going to come not out and make India go through that tough phase [in the semi-final]. But then again, maybe that was my ego talking because how can you predict something like that? You can only have a strong feeling or maybe it was a strong desire to do something like that.”

Virat Kohli after getting out to Trent Boult

However, Kohli made it clear that no matter what the result is, he wanted himself as well as his players to have no energy while walking out from the field. According to him, having regrets after the match doesn’t help anyone and therefore demands perfection from his men while playing for India. He said:

“I hate losing. I don’t want to walk out and say I could have done this. When I step out on the field, it’s a privilege. When I walk out, I want to have zero energy. We want to leave behind a legacy that future cricketers will say we want to play like that.”

Also see – World Test Championship Schedule

Kohli scored one run in six balls before getting out leg-before wicket to left-arm pacer Trent Boult. India's late chance of winning rested in the hands of MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja, but an accurate Martin Guptill throw from the deep had Dhoni inches short of the crease, as India fell short by 18 runs.

MS Dhoni run-out