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| Virat Kohli |
Virat Kohli surprised everyone by announcing his retirement from T20 internationals after India’s title win against South Africa. Kohli participated in six T20 World Cups over his 14-year international career and finished on a high note as a world champion.
Key Points:
· Virat Kohli announced his retirement from T20 internationals.
· Kohli participated in six T20 World Cups and scored 1292 runs.
· Kohli emphasized the importance of respecting the game and opportunities.
Kohli's T20 World Cup Journey:
Virat Kohli had a long and illustrious T20 international career, playing in six T20 World Cups (2012, 2014, 2016, 2021, 2022, and 2024). In the 2014 T20 World Cup, Kohli was close to becoming a world champion, but India lost to Sri Lanka in the final. Throughout his T20 World Cup career, Kohli scored a total of 1292 runs in 35 matches with a strike rate of 128.81, including 15 half-centuries and a top score of 89*.
Kohli’s Farewell Statement:
After India's victory in the T20 World Cup final, Kohli announced his retirement from T20 internationals, expressing that this was the perfect send-off. Kohli scored a crucial 76 runs off 59 balls in the final, earning him the Player of the Match award. During the award ceremony, Kohli said, "This was my last T20 World Cup. We wanted to achieve this. One day you feel you can't run anymore, and that's when you realize you are not in control. Keeping your head down, respecting the game and the opportunities, is the way to move forward."
Emphasizing the Next Generation:
Kohli expressed the need to give opportunities to the next generation of players. He said, "It's time for the next generation to take the T20 game forward. This was my last T20 match for India. Winning this cup was our goal. Even if we had lost, I was going to announce this. It’s time to move on and give the younger players a chance."
Respecting the Game:
Kohli reflected on his career and the importance of respecting the game. In an interview with the tournament's official broadcaster, he said, "Honestly, what I value more than the award is the support shown to me today. You might think you're in control, but when something happens, you realize you aren’t. The biggest lesson for me, even at this stage of my career, is to keep my head down and respect the game and the opportunities it provides."
A Farewell to Remember:
Kohli shared his thoughts on the journey and the emotional victory. He said, "We have played so many tournaments under pressure. We kept trying because we hadn't won an ICC trophy for many years. The whole journey comes to mind. The last time we won was the Champions Trophy in 2013. After that, we kept going, reaching semifinals and finals. Winning this match is overwhelming. I never thought this day would come where we’d win such a match. I am very happy for everyone. This was Rohit’s ninth World Cup, and I think he should have been carried on our shoulders. Everyone in the team deserved this win and had been trying for it for a long time."
