Virat Kohli announces T20I retirement after leading India to T20 World Cup victory
Virat Kohli has struggled to find his feet throughout the ICC T20 World Cup. PHOTO: AFP
India's seasoned cricketer Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from T20 Internationals following India's victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup against South Africa.
Kohli, who scored 76 off 59 balls and was named Player of the Match, revealed that this was his final T20 World Cup and last T20I match for India.
"This was my last T20 World Cup, and this is what we wanted to achieve. One day you feel you can't get a run, then things happen. God is great, and I got the job done for the team on the day it mattered," said Kohli.
"Now or never, last T20 for India, wanted to make the most of it. Wanted to lift the cup, wanted to respect the situation rather than force it. This was an open secret, it's time for the next generation to take over, some amazing players will take the team forward and keep the flag waving high."
Also read: Virat Kohli matches Babar Azam's record with half-century in T20 World Cup final
Prior to the final, Kohli had only scored 75 runs in the first seven matches of the tournament. After India found themselves at 23-2, Kohli formed a crucial partnership with Axar Patel and reached his 39th fifty-plus score in men's T20I cricket, tying the record with Babar Azam. Babar achieved 39 fifty-plus scores in 123 matches, while Kohli took 126 matches.
Following his fifty, Kohli accelerated his scoring, adding 26 runs in just 11 balls to help India set a total of 176 for 7 in their 20 overs. This total became the highest-ever in T20 World Cup finals while batting first, surpassing New Zealand's 172/4 against Australia in the 2021 final.