LSN News › India

World · India Bureau

Virat Kohli opens up on lasting pain of 2019 World Cup semifinal loss

The Indian cricket captain has reflected on the emotional toll of India's defeat to New Zealand in the 2019 ODI World Cup semifinal, describing the loss as deeply difficult to accept and mentally damaging.

LSN India · 27 September 2026

Virat Kohli opens up on lasting pain of 2019 World Cup semifinal loss

Virat Kohli has revisited the anguish of India's 2019 Cricket World Cup semifinal defeat to New Zealand, acknowledging the profound psychological impact the loss had on him. The Indian batter revealed that coming to terms with the elimination proved exceptionally challenging during that period.

Kohli described how the defeat struck at a deeply personal level, leaving him mentally affected in the aftermath of the match. The loss marked a significant setback for India's World Cup campaign and for Kohli himself, who has been consistently central to the nation's ODI ambitions.

The semifinal clash, held in England, saw India fall short in their bid to reach the World Cup final. Kohli's candid reflection underscores the emotional investment and pressure elite athletes experience when competing on cricket's grandest stages, particularly during knockout matches that determine a team's World Cup fate.

The Indian star's acknowledgment of the match's emotional aftermath provides insight into the mental fortitude required of professional cricketers to overcome major tournament disappointments and rebuild their focus for future campaigns.