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Virat Kohli Reflects on 2019 World Cup Semi-Final Loss: ‘A Horrible Hangover’

Kohli opens up about India’s defeat to New Zealand, disrupted momentum from rain delays, and the emotional toll of repeated ICC setbacks during his captaincy.

Overview

  • Virat Kohli described the emotional aftermath of India’s 2019 World Cup semi-final loss to New Zealand as a ‘horrible hangover,’ leaving him dazed and unsure of how to move forward.
  • India, tournament favorites, topped the group stage but lost the semi-final by 18 runs after rain forced the match into a reserve day, disrupting their momentum.
  • Kohli highlighted the challenges posed by early morning conditions on the reserve day, which he believes impacted the team’s performance and preparation.
  • The 2019 loss was part of a broader pattern of near-misses for Kohli, who cited setbacks in the 2014 final, 2015 and 2016 semi-finals, and the 2017 Champions Trophy final.
  • Emphasizing resilience, Kohli reflected on the difficulty of accepting setbacks but stressed the importance of moving forward and learning from such experiences.