• Source:JND
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Yuzvendra Chahal, India's senior spinner, made an interesting revelation on Virat Kohli and how other players dealt with the team's disappointing defeat in the semifinal against New Zealand in the 2019 ODI World Cup.

Chahal was part of the Indian team in the ODI WC 2019, and the Kohli-led side had a remarkable outing in the tournament in England. The Men in Blue ended up losing the all-important semifinal against New Zealand on the reserved day by 18 runs, failing to chase 240 after an excellent bowling performance.

Chahal made the revelation on the podcast, Figuring Out With Raj Shamani. The spinner, who was part of India's playing XI in that game, was speaking about the difference between Rohit Sharma and Kohli's captaincy when Shamani asked him if he had seen the latter cry. "I love how Rohit bhaiya carries himself on the ground. He's a very good captain. With Virat bhaiya, it's the energy he brings, the same energy every day. It will only go up and never down. Same energy. Every day," Chahal said.

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Shamani mentioned the recent IPL 2025 final, where after Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s win, Kohli couldn't control his tears on TV.

"2019 World Cup, I saw him crying in the bathroom," Chahal said. "And then I was the last batter, when I was crossing him, he had tears in his eyes. In 2019, I saw everyone crying in the bathroom."

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Kohli performed brilliantly in the 2019 ODI WC but had a disappointing outing in the semifinal as Trent Boult dismissed him for just one run. Chahal, too, has had a decent tournament, but against the Blackcaps, he was India’s most expensive bowler. He conceded 63 runs in 10 overs while picking one wicket, of Kane Williamson.

He said it's a performance he still regrets.

"It was Mahi bhai's last match," Chahal said ruefully. "… I could have done better. I still regret that. I could have pushed myself a bit more, bowled a bit better, and leaked 10-15 fewer runs. But sometimes you are in that flow, it happens so quickly that you don’t get time to think. I thought if I were calmer, I could have done even better. I gave my best, but it was the semi-final, a bigger stage, and you have to give your 10-15% extra."

Chahal has been out of India's setup for a while but is working hard to make his way back to the side. He is currently in England playing County Cricket as the rest of the senior side is playing Tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

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