NEW DELHI: Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh believes that the star batsman Virat Kohli remains eager to secure another World Cup triumph, having missed out on the prestigious title on three previous occasions.
Virat, who missed the recently-concluded five-match series against England that India won 4-1, marked his World Cup debut in 2011, where he clinched the trophy, ending India's 28-year wait for the coveted prize.
Despite participating in eight World Cups since then, Virat has yet to claim a title victory in the tournament.
Amidst this journey, he has shattered numerous records, surpassing batting legend Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most centuries in ODIs and securing the highest run tally in a single edition of a World Cup.
1/10:Teams to have never won IPL despite playing all 16 seasons
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2/10:Royal Challengers Bangalore
<p>Throughout IPL history, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have relentlessly pursued their maiden title, facing heartbreak despite immense talent and determination.</p>Getty Images
3/10:RCB's Quest for a Balanced Squad
<p>RCB, a popular IPL franchise, struggle with challenges such as a weak bowling lineup, insufficient quality all-rounders, and the absence of a top-class spin bowler, hindering their quest for a balanced squad.</p>Getty Images
4/10:RCB's Struggle
<p>Key factors in RCB's struggle include a consistently weak bowling lineup, insufficient quality all-rounders, reliance on Yuzvendra Chahal for spin, inconsistency in the opening pair, weakness in defending scores, and heavy reliance on a few key players.</p>Getty Images
5/10:Punjab Kings
<p>Punjab Kings, formerly Kings XI Punjab, faces inconsistency, starting strong but struggling to sustain momentum, with poor team selection and a lack of quality spinners hindering their IPL success.</p>Getty Images
6/10:Reasons Behind Failure
<p>Punjab Kings' inability to secure an IPL title is attributed to inconsistent performances, questionable team selection, and a persistent lack of quality spinners affecting their overall bowling performance.</p>Getty Images
7/10:Bright future ahead
<p>While the Punjab-based franchise has faced repeated disappointments, fueled by fan passion and the desire to script their own success stories, the path to IPL glory lies within their grasp.</p>Getty Images
8/10:Delhi Capitals
<p>Delhi Capitals, formerly Delhi Daredevils, grapple with challenges in finding a stable opening pair and has shown improvement under Shreyas Iyer's captaincy, with a shortage of quality all-rounders affecting their balance.</p>Getty Images
9/10:Reasons for Not Winning
<p>Delhi Capitals' struggles include the inability to establish a reliable opening pair, past captaincy challenges, and a shortage of quality all-rounders impacting their ability to strike the right balance in the team.</p>Getty Images
10/10:Potential for IPL Title
<p>All three teams, RCB, Punjab Kings, and Delhi Capitals, have the potential to claim an IPL title, provided they address and overcome the challenges that have hindered their success in the past.</p>Getty ImagesDespite these achievements, Harbhajan Singh suggests that Virat's desire for the elusive World Cup title remains undiminished.
"Virat Kohli didn't appear on the ground. He needed a well-deserving rest and he got it. In 2011 he won a World Cup, he got into the team and he won the World Cup for the first time, we had already played three or four World Cups and he won it for the first time. It was luck and after that, Virat turned into a big player he played in 2015, 2019, and 2023, and even after that he couldn't get his hands on the trophy", Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.
"So that feeling stays in the mind of the player. I think he won't be satisfied until he gets his hand on the trophy. He has broken a lot of records and scored a lot of runs. His hunger will be satisfied when he gets his hands on the World Cup trophy," he said.
Virat will return to the field in the IPL 2024.
RCB will kick off their IPL 2024 campaign against defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the season opener at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Bengaluru.
