Virat Kohli Announces His Retirement from T20I Internationals

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After India won the World Cup on Saturday, defeating South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling match at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, Virat Kohli declared his retirement from Twenty20 international cricket. India’s pacers, Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, and Jasrit Bumrah, worked their magic in the last overs to save the team from certain defeat in a thrilling match.

Both players’ emotions were running high at that moment. Tears filled the eyes of India’s skipper Rohit Sharma, vice-captain Hardik Pandya, speed spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, and all-rounder Axar Patel. However, Kohli’s statement was what set off a chain reaction of emotions.

Virat Kohli said, "it was my last T20 World Cup for India, so I'm happy to win it". pic.twitter.com/0VShKo8Zdr
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 29, 2024

This was my final T20 World Cup, and we absolutely intended to do this. God is awesome because just when you think you can’t run any more, this happens. Just the right moment, circumstance when it’s now or never,” Kohli, who top-scored with 76 off 59 balls to walk away with the Player of the Match title, remarked at the post-match ceremony.

The former captain of India went one step further when Harsha Bhogle asked for clarification of Kohli’s remark, saying that it was not just his World Cup attendance but also his T20I debut for India.

“I have, indeed. I played my final Twenty20 match for India,” stated Kohli. Kohli stated that even if India had lost to South Africa in the championship match, he would still have made the announcement.

“Our goal was to raise that cup. It was widely known that something existed. Not that, even in the event that we lost, I wasn’t going to announce it. It’s time for the upcoming generation to advance the Twenty20 format, stated Kohli.

Because he has been waiting for the title for so long, skipper Rohit Sharma, stated by Kohli, deserves it more. “We have been yearning to win an ICC event for a very long time. Consider Rohit, who has participated in nine T20 World Cups; I have participated in six. He is deserving of it. It’s been difficult to hold things (emotions) back and I think it’s going to sink in later. I’m grateful for this wonderful day,” he remarked.