"He has not scored runs in the tournament" - Aiden Markram issues an open challenge to Virat Kohli ahead of T20 World Cup final

South Africa captain Aiden Markram has opened up about Virat Kohli's threat in the highly anticipated final match against the Indian team in the T20 World Cup 2024. Aiden Markram said that they remain cautious of Virat Kohli, despite the former Indian skipper struggling to score throughout the tournament.

Aiden Markram led the South African team to their first-ever final match in World Cups (ODIs and T20Is). The Proteas are set to face the Rohit Sharma-led team at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday, June 29. Markram has the golden opportunity to guide his team to their first World Cup trophy win.

Both India and South Africa have reached the final without losing a single game in the ongoing World Cup. The Men in Blue will be aiming to secure their first ICC trophy since 2013. The Indian team reached the final match in last year's ODI World Cup but lost against Australia in the summit clash in Ahmedabad.

I Don't Think It Worries Me - Aiden Markram

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the final match, Aiden Markram acknowledged Virat Kohli's reputation as a talented player in big matches. Markram expressed confidence in their strategy against Kohli in the upcoming match.

"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, addressing the media.

Virat Kohli had a standout season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The right-handed batter won the Orange Cap with 741 runs at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69. However, he failed to replicate his batting success in the T20 World Cup 2024.

The Delhi-born cricketer has scored just 75 runs in seven matches at an average of 10.71 and a strike rate of 100 in the ongoing T20 World Cup. The 35-year-old batter showed aggression from the beginning in the tournament, unlike his natural style. The Indian team hopes Virat will deliver in the final match.

Virat Kohli Is A Great Player - Aiden Markram

Aiden Markram acknowledged the strength of India's entire batting lineup. The South African skipper mentioned their team's strategic planning and preparation focused on countering India's batting effectively. Markram hoped that their planning would pay off in the final match.

"He's a great player as we all know, but they've got their whole batting unit full of great players. Cricket is 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," Markram added.

Also read: "He has suffered..go back to the game against Pakistan at the MCG"- Nasser Hussain delivers stone-cold verdict on Virat Kohli