The legacy of Virat Kohli, particularly during his tenure as captain, is unparalleled. As India's most successful Test captain, Kohli spearheaded a transformative era for the team from 2015 to 2021. Under his leadership, India accomplished remarkable feats, including their inaugural Test series victory in Australia, securing the ICC Test mace for five consecutive years, challenging England in Tests on their home ground, and participating in several memorable ICC tournaments. The 2019 World Cup in England stands out, where India topped the group stage.

However, despite the numerous accolades Kohli has brought to India, he, like any captain, has faced his share of disappointments. The most significant shortcoming of his captaincy is the inability to secure an ICC trophy for India. The team came close on multiple occasions, reaching the semifinals of the 2019 World Cup, the final of the inaugural World Test Championship, and the 2017 Champions Trophy, yet fell short at the crucial moment. The Champions Trophy final against Pakistan remains particularly painful, as India entered the match as the clear favorite, having previously dominated Pakistan in their group-stage encounter just days before. Unfortunately, the final did not unfold as anticipated, beginning with a controversial toss decision.

A choice that continues to spark debate, India opted to bowl first and ultimately faced the consequences. Pakistan amassed a formidable total of 338/4, with Fakhar Zaman scoring 114 runs. In response, the renowned Indian batting lineup faltered dramatically, collapsing for just 158 runs. Reflecting on the match eight years later, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar, who was part of the team management, acknowledges that the decision-makers, including captain Kohli, misjudged the playing conditions.

On that particular day, we made an error in judgment. After winning the toss, we should have opted to bat, as the weather in England often necessitates a glance at the sky for cloud cover. However, it was a completely sunny day. I believe the decisions taken, along with the team management involved in that choice, were misguided. I was also part of that team, which included captain Virat Kohli, coach Anil Kumble, senior player MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma; it was a collective decision rather than an individual one, Bangar stated during a discussion on ESPNcricinfo.

Hardik Pandya was fuming with anger

India quickly lost Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shikhar Dhawan, finding themselves at a precarious 6/72. The only glimmer of hope came from Hardik Pandya, who was aggressively scoring runs with a series of boundaries. However, his innings came to an abrupt end due to a run-out resulting from a mix-up with Ravindra Jadeja. Pakistan ultimately triumphed by 180 runs, securing the Champions Trophy under the leadership of Sarfaraz Ahmed, marking their first ICC title since the 2009 T20 World Cup, also held in England.

"Even when Hardik and Jadeja were at the crease, the target remained daunting. Hardik played commendably, hitting several significant sixes, but once we lost our top order, our chances of winning diminished. While Hardik was frustrated, he directed that anger inward rather than towards his teammate, feeling that he could have been the one to secure victory for India. In such situations, it is best to allow the player some space," Bangar added.

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