Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli sent shockwaves through the cricketing world on Saturday night by announcing his retirement from Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) after India’s thrilling victory against South Africa in the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup final.
Kohli, who played a pivotal role in India’s win with a match-winning knock of 76 runs off 59 balls, was awarded the Player of the Match for his final T20I performance.
In a heartfelt speech during the post-match presentation, Kohli revealed his decision to step down from the T20I format. “This was my last T20 World Cup, and this is exactly what we wanted to achieve,” he said. “This win feels very special, a true now-or-never kind of situation. But more importantly, this was my last T20 game playing for India. We came here with one goal – to lift that cup.”
Kohli further elaborated on his decision, hinting that his retirement plans were known within the team. “Yes, I have announced my retirement from T20Is. It wasn’t something I was going to hide even if the result had gone the other way. It’s time for the next generation to take the T20 game forward for India. It’s been a long wait for us to win an ICC trophy. You look at someone like Rohit, he’s played a staggering 9 T20 World Cups and this is my sixth. He absolutely deserves this win.”
Kohli’s illustrious T20I career began in June 2010. Over the years, he amassed a staggering 4188 runs in 125 matches, including an impressive century and 38 half-centuries. He finishes his T20I career as the second-highest run scorer in the format, only behind his teammate Rohit Sharma.
This announcement marks a significant turning point in Indian cricket. While Kohli steps away from the T20I arena, his legacy as a phenomenal batsman and leader will continue to inspire generations of cricketers to come