Virat Kohli Reflects on Unfinished Business After World Cup Heartbreak

In a recent interview, Virat Kohli opened up about the lingering feelings of unfinished business following India's loss to Australia in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup final. He expressed that the defeat was hard to process and reflected on his performance during the match. Kohli highlighted the strong team spirit throughout the tournament and shared his thoughts on how a different outcome might have been possible had he scored more runs. With an impressive record in the tournament, Kohli's insights provide a glimpse into his mindset and aspirations moving forward.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 27, 2026, 12:28 IST

Kohli's Reflections on the World Cup Final

Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli expressed that he feels there is still some 'unfinished business' in his career following India's painful defeat to Australia in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup final. He shared that the loss was challenging to come to terms with for several days, noting that had he scored between 140 and 150 runs during the match, the outcome might have been different. Kohli made these remarks during an interview with JioStar ahead of India's first ODI against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. The 2023 World Cup journey remains a bittersweet experience for Indian supporters, as the team won ten consecutive matches before facing defeat in the final. Kohli was a standout performer throughout the tournament, but his dismissal for 54 runs, after a delivery from Pat Cummins hit his stumps, marked a pivotal moment in the final held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

A Unique Energy in the Team

In his conversation with JioStar, Kohli reflected on the final, stating, "Yes, there is a little bit of unfinished business after the World Cup loss at home. Before we clinched the IPL title in 2025, I often recalled the 2016 final. I feel similarly about the World Cup final. I was on 54 and had positioned myself for a significant score; if I had reached 140-150, we would have been in a strong position to win. However, once I got out, it was tough to process for many days, and I kept replaying it in my mind." Kohli praised the overall experience of the World Cup, highlighting the incredible atmosphere and the strong bond within the team. He mentioned, "Even after losing Hardik early due to injury, we didn’t dwell on the potential consequences, despite his significant contributions. But Mohammed Shami stepped up, and we all felt it was our World Cup. There was a unique energy, and when the game shifted unexpectedly, it was hard to accept."

Match Summary and Kohli's Impressive Performance

In the World Cup final, India was bowled out for 240 runs after Australia chose to field first. Australia, after a shaky start at 47/3, was propelled towards their sixth title by a remarkable 137 from Travis Head, along with a crucial half-century from Marnus Labuschagne. Kohli emerged as the top scorer in the tournament, achieving a record for the best World Cup performance by a batter, amassing 765 runs in 11 innings with an impressive average of 95.62, including three centuries and six fifties.