Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes the Indian bowlers saved Virat Kohli’s innings. Manjrekar feels Kohli’s knock of 59-ball 76 (strike rate of 128) would have been questioned if India had lost the World Cup final against South Africa at Barbados on Saturday.

The renowned cricket analyst said he would have given the Player of the Match to a bowler. South Africa was in a winning position as they needed a run-a-ball 30 but the Indian bowlers – Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya – were able to get their team back into the contest.

Hardik Pandya got the big wickets of well-settled Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller whereas Bumrah conceded only six runs in his last two overs and also accounted for Marco Jansen. Pandya returned with impressive figures of 3-20 in the three overs he bowled whereas Bumrah bagged 2-18 in his four overs quota.

Sanjay Manjrekar said on ESPN Cricinfo, “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 further added that Kohli’s knock would have put India in a tight corner as Hardik Pandya faced only two balls.

“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.”

Kohli was awarded Player of the Match for his knock and decided to hang his boots from T20Is after India’s World Cup victory.