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Xtra Time Wed Desk: As the T20 World Cup final approaches, South Africa's captain Aiden Markram has shared insights into his team's approach towards the formidable Indian side, particularly star batter Virat Kohli. Despite Kohli's struggles in the tournament, Markram emphasized the depth and talent of the Indian batting lineup.

In the upcoming final in Barbados, the two top teams of the tournament will face off, with an unbeaten side set to be crowned T20 World Cup champions for the first time. India, keen to end their ICC trophy drought since 2014, will compete against South Africa, who have reached their first-ever World Cup final, marking a historic milestone for the team. South Africa is determined to make this achievement even more special by clinching the title.

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Virat Kohli, who had an outstanding season with the RCB in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), winning the Orange Cap with 741 runs at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69, has found it challenging to replicate this form in the T20 World Cup. Despite his impressive IPL performance, including a century and five half-centuries, Kohli has managed only 75 runs at an average of 10.71 in seven matches during the ongoing tournament.

There was a glimmer of hope when Kohli smashed a ball over mid-wicket for six off Reece Topley, suggesting a potential return to form. However, Topley soon dismissed him, highlighting Kohli's continued struggle. In contrast, Rohit Sharma has been in excellent form, scoring 248 runs, including a blistering 92 off 41 balls against Australia, at an average above 40. Kohli, on the other hand, has two ducks and only two double-figure scores in seven matches, a stark contrast to his IPL success.

Addressing the media, Markram acknowledged Kohli's prowess but dismissed concerns about the Indian star's recent lack of form in the tournament. "It's come to the big final, and we all know what a player he has been. So any bit of plan and are you worried about the fact that he has not scored runs in the tournament? I mean, I don't think it worries me," Markram stated.

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Markram further elaborated on the respect for Kohli's capabilities while emphasizing the depth of the Indian batting lineup. "He's a great player as we all know, but they've got their whole batting unit full of great players. Cricket's a game of ups and downs. You're not always going to do well, especially as a batter. We just do our planning, do our preparation from a meeting's point of view for planning towards those batters. Hopefully, on the day we can get that right," he added.

As the final showdown approaches, both teams will be eager to put their best foot forward, with South Africa aiming to cap their historic run with a championship victory, and India striving to reclaim ICC glory.