After leading the Indian cricket team to victory in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa, Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Twenty20 internationals.
The intense final match, held in Barbados, saw India emerging triumphant with a 7-run victory. Kohli’s significant contribution was pivotal in securing India’s second World Twenty20 win after a gap of 17 years.
Kohli talks after winning the T20 World Cup
“This is my last T20 World Cup. This is what we wanted,” Kohli declared emotionally, clutching the Man of the Match award tightly after a stellar performance, scoring 76 runs off 59 balls.
“This is an amazing game,” Kohli continued, his voice filled with exhaustion and elation.
Reflecting on his batting experience, Kohli confided, “Today, when we were going to bat, I told Rohit that some days I feel like I can’t even score a single run. But in the middle, the necessary things are happening… I can’t even think about God.”
“I am grateful to God that I was able to play my part for the team when it was most needed,” Virat Kohli said humbly after the match, his eyes reflecting the game’s intensity.
India won the toss and elected to bat
India won the crucial toss and decided to bat first in the high-stakes final clash against South Africa. The dynamic duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli took the field as the opening batsmen, with hopes high for a strong start. However, Kohli and Sharma’s partnership was short-lived, as they managed to add only 23 runs to the scoreboard in just 10 balls.
Despite the early setback, India suffered a significant blow when three key batting pillars, Rohit Sharma (9), Rishabh Pant (0), and Suryakumar Yadav (3), fell within the span of 11 runs, leaving the team reeling at 34 for 3.
Stepping up to the challenge, Virat Kohli showed immense grit and determination as he took charge of the innings.
He aggressively steered the Indian team to a score of 163 for 4 before eventually being dismissed in the 19th over.
Kohli’s exemplary innings of 76 runs off 59 balls, embellished with 6 fours and 2 sixes, served as a testament to his skill and leadership on the field.
Post-match, Kohli delivered an emotional announcement during the press conference, revealing, “This is my last T20 for India. It was the last World Cup I was going to play. I wanted to make the most of this opportunity. We aimed to win an International Cricket Council tournament and lift the trophy.”
Reflecting on his performance, Kohli said, “I put my head down, understood the situation, and tried to adapt to it, not forcing anything. I did what the team expected of me.” His heartfelt words and outstanding display of sportsmanship left a lasting impression on fans and teammates alike.
Kohli has decided before the match
In a recent statement, Kohli confirmed that he will retire from T20 internationals despite the team’s loss in the final match. “It’s an open secret,” he said. When asked if the farewell was permanent, Kohli said, “The team knew this was my last T20 World Cup. Now, the next generation should take this responsibility.”
It’s been exactly 10 years since Kohli scored a 58-ball 77 in the T20 World Cup final in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
However, his team lost to bowlers like Lasith Malinga, Nuvan Kulasekera, and Rangana Herath while facing batters like Kumar Sangakkara (52 not out), Mahela Jayawardena (24), Thisara Perera (23 not out), and Tillakaratne Dilshan (18).
Debut against Zimbabwe
In 2010, Kohli made his T20 debut against Zimbabwe, marking the beginning of an impressive career that has seen him score 4188 runs in 125 T20 internationals. One of his standout innings was a remarkable 122 not out against Afghanistan in 2022.
India’s victory in the 2011 ODI World Cup, where they defeated Sri Lanka, holds a special place in Kohli’s career. This is his first World Cup win after 13 years of hard work, and the excitement of being part of a World Cup-winning team is still fresh in his mind.
Kohli’s camaraderie with his teammates is evident. He pointed out, “We’ve been waiting a long time to achieve some things,” expressing his faith in the team’s collective effort.
Acknowledging the experience of his fellow player Rohit Sharma, Kohli highlighted, “Look at Rohit Sharma. He has played nine T20 World Cups. This is my sixth. That’s why this World Cup is essential for me and the rest of the team.”
Reflecting on his recent performance, Kohli admitted, “I didn’t play that well in the last few matches I played. Even in the middle of the field, I didn’t feel that good… But God blesses you in unimaginable ways.”
India’s second-highest run-scorer
Kohli ended his 125-match Twenty20 international career as India’s second-highest run-scorer. Only skipper Rohit Sharma is ahead of Kohli. What Kohli says is true: cricket is a great and wonderful game.
Until the 2024 World Cup semi-final, Kohli had only scored 75 runs in 7 innings. However, in the final, Kohli scored 76 runs off 59 balls. After becoming the hero of the match, he retired from T20 international cricket.
Similarly, Kumar Sangakkara scored only 19 runs in 4 innings until the semi-final of the 2014 World Cup. But in the final, Sangakkara scored an unbeaten 52 off 35 balls. After becoming the hero of the match, he retired from T20 international cricket.
Kohli spoke from his heart
Kohli expressed his feelings at the press conference following the final match, saying, “To be honest, this is something I could not even dream of.
” He shared his thoughts on his journey in the tournament with ‘Star Sports’ and mentioned, “This is a big lesson for me; I learnt a big lesson from this game.
” Kohli acknowledged the need to put aside pride and the realisation that moving forward too fast can lead to setbacks.
He also emphasised the importance of staying grounded and adapting to the status quo. Kohli mentioned the significance of being a senior player and the responsibility that comes with it, stating, “Until I perform to win a World Cup, people will look up to me.
” Additionally, he discussed his conversation with Rohit before batting and his determination to win a World Cup in this format. Kohli emphasised the unexpected nature of the match outcome, saying, “We cannot even dream of what actually happened.”
The South Africans needed 30 runs off the last 30 balls with 4 wickets during the final. However, they lost 4 wickets for 22 runs in the remaining 30 balls, resulting in India winning the match while defending a total of 177 runs.
The semi-final match between Sri Lanka and the West Indies
In the 2014 T20 World Cup, during the semi-final match between Sri Lanka and the West Indies, the game was halted due to an unexpected occurrence of icy rain.
In light of this unusual pause, Darren Sammy, the captain of the West Indies team, delivered an eloquent and thought-provoking speech. He emphasised the belief in a higher power, stating, “We always have to believe that there is someone above us…
There are two players in the Sri Lankan team. Perhaps God had decided to give them a happy farewell. That’s probably why he intervened.
” Following this significant event, Darren Sammy demonstrated remarkable leadership as the captain of the West Indies team, guiding them to a triumphant victory in the 2016 World Cup.
This reflects the extraordinary transformation that can occur when unwavering determination aligns with the forces of nature, leading to accomplishments that appear miraculous and prompting some to attribute such individuals as ‘gods’.
