Pakistan batter Ahmed Shahzad has lauded Indian star Virat Kohli for his inimitable T20I legacy and believes no other cricketer, including Babar Azam comes in the same line. However, Virat Kohli announced his retirement from T20Is after India won the just-concluded 2024 T20 World Cup. He was the Player of the Match for his crucial 59-ball 76 in the finale against South Africa as well. However, Kohli finished his T20I career with 4,188 runs at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04 in 125 innings as well.

Speaking to reporters in Abu Dhabi after India’s 2024 T20 World Cup win, Shahzad said, “Virat Kohli is a legend of our generation. Every time he stepped on the field, he played the game with the same enthusiasm. He is leaving a great legacy in the T20Is. Good luck to Indian Cricket trying to fill his massive shoes. No one should compare Babar Azam or any other cricketer to him.”

Again said Shahzad, “Even in his last T20I, Virat was celebrating at long-on and long-off whenever a wicket fell. He did not score runs in the entire T20 World Cup, but when things are written in your destiny, you will get them. He scored runs in the final when nobody else stood up with the bat. India would never have won the T20 World Cup final without Virat Kohli’s innings.”

However, Virat Kohli was delighted to have contributed to the team’s cause in the final against South Africa after a poor run through the 2024
T20 World Cup as well.

“This is exactly what we wanted to achieve. This is an amazing game. I was telling Rohit today when we went out to bat I was like.. one day you feel like you can’t get a run and then you come out and things happen. God is great. I bow my head in gratitude. I am really grateful that I was able to get the job done for the team on the day it mattered the most,” said Virat Kohli at the post-match presentation.