- Virat Kohli announced retirement from T20I cricket.
- Kohli scored a crucial 76 runs in the final.
- South Africa lost the final by seven runs.
At 35 years of age, Kohli was honored as the Player of the Match for his pivotal 76 runs off 59 deliveries and disclosed during the post-match conference that this marked his final appearance in both the T20 World Cup and India’s T20 squad.
“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,” expressed Kohli post-game.
“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,” he continued.
Concluding a T20I career spanning 125 matches, Kohli retires as the second-most prolific run-scorer for India in this format, amassing 4,188 runs at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04.
In the final, South Africa pursued a target of 177 but concluded their chase seven runs short. Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen were the standout performers for South Africa, scoring 39 off 31 balls and 52 off 27 balls, respectively.
The match began with Rohit Sharma opting to bat after winning the toss, a decision that initially seemed questionable as early wickets fell, including those of Rohit, Rishabh Pant, and Suryakumar Yadav.
Nonetheless, Kohli, who had not found form throughout the T20 World Cup 2024, came to life with a crucial 76-run knock, propelling India to a final score of 176 for the loss of seven wickets.
Upon receiving the Player of the Match accolade, Kohli reaffirmed his retirement from the T20 World Cup and T20 internationals, signaling the end of his illustrious tenure.
Kohli’s remarkable T20I journey commenced in 2010, and over the years, he represented India in 125 T20Is, achieving an impressive batting average of 48.69.
This triumph marks India’s second T20 World Cup title, their first being in 2007 when they overcame Pakistan in the inaugural tournament’s final.
The 2024 T20 World Cup also concludes a period without trophies for India, with their last ICC trophy win dating back to 2013 when they secured the Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.
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