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Kohli: "T20 World Cup pressure" felt in Champions Trophy return after eight years

Considering India's dominance over their rivals in the preceding match, the final was widely expected to be another straightforward triumph.

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By Mausam Pandya
New Update
8hi

Virat Kohli's earlier Champions Trophy appearance saw him come closest to ICC trophy glory as leader of the Indian senior men's cricket team. That was in 2017, & Kohli was poised to secure his 1st major ICC title, only a few months into his tenure as India's limited-overs captain, after taking over from MS Dhoni. India had faced Pakistan in the final. Considering India's dominance over their rivals in the preceding match, the final was widely expected to be another straightforward triumph. But on the important day, Pakistan turned the tables, delivering a crushing 180-run defeat to India, & winning their first ICC title in eight years.

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"No one saw it coming, Kohli included." In the years following that loss, Kohli gradually relinquished his captaincy, failing to win an ICC title during his 7-year captaincy, although he did reach the knockout stages of three tournaments. 8 years after that painful night at The Oval, Kohli returned for what may be his final Champions Trophy. He won in 2013 and finished as runner-up four years later. "This time, anything less than a trophy won't be enough."

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