“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” – Joseph P. Kennedy’s words could not be more apt when describing the knockout heroics of Indian cricket’s modern-day stalwarts, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Over the past decade, and especially in recent ICC tournaments, the duo has redefined what it means to deliver under pressure.
Four Knockouts, Four Impact Performances
In the last two ICC tournaments alone – the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy – Rohit and Kohli have taken turns scripting match-defining knocks in crunch games:
| Tournament & Stage | Player | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 T20 World Cup Semi-Final | Rohit Sharma | 57 |
| 2024 T20 World Cup Final | Virat Kohli | 76 |
| 2025 Champions Trophy Semi-Final | Virat Kohli | 84 |
| 2025 Champions Trophy Final | Rohit Sharma | 76 |
Four knockout matches, four top scores for India – shared equally between the two. It’s a staggering reminder that experience isn’t just about numbers, it’s about showing up when it matters most.
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A Decade of Big-Match Brilliance
This is not a recent phenomenon. In fact, in India’s last nine ICC knockout victories, the top scorer has always been either Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli – an unprecedented streak in modern cricket:
| Tournament & Stage | Player | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| CT 2013 Final | Virat Kohli | 43 |
| T20 WC 2014 Semi-Final | Virat Kohli | 72* |
| WC 2015 Quarter-Final | Rohit Sharma | 137 |
| CT 2017 Semi-Final | Rohit Sharma | 123* |
| WC 2023 Semi-Final | Virat Kohli | 117 |
| T20 WC 2024 Semi-Final | Rohit Sharma | 57 |
| T20 WC 2024 Final | Virat Kohli | 76 |
| CT 2025 Semi-Final | Virat Kohli | 84 |
| CT 2025 Final | Rohit Sharma | 76 |
Nine matches. Nine wins. Every time, either Rohit or Kohli stood tallest when the stakes were at their peak.
The Mentality of Big-Game Players
Between them, the two have amassed 27 ICC Player of the Match awards – 15 for Kohli and 12 for Rohit – with three each coming in knockouts. But beyond stats, it’s their temperament that sets them apart. They don’t play for milestones; they play for moments. The moments when the trophy is within reach and the margin for error is zero.
A Fitting Endgame?
Indian fans can’t help but dream – what if this story has one last glorious chapter? Imagine the 2027 ODI World Cup Final: India on the brink, and once again, Rohit and Kohli at the crease, absorbing the pressure, counter-punching, and lifting the trophy. It would be the perfect epilogue to two glittering careers defined by their ability to rise in the biggest moments.
Until then, one thing is certain – when the game is on the line, and the opposition feels the heat, Ro-Ko don’t just play, they deliver.
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