Virat Kohli, one of cricket’s greatest batters, chose the perfect moment to announce his retirement from T20I cricket. Following India’s victory in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa at Bridgetown’s Kensington Oval, Kohli revealed that this match marked his final appearance in T20Is. His decision capped off a fairytale ending to his T20I career, culminating in a championship win for India.

In a post-match interview, Kohli, who was awarded the Player of the Match in the final, shared his thoughts on his retirement, saying, “This was my last T20 World Cup, this is exactly what we wanted to achieve. One day you feel like you can’t get a run and this happens, God is great. Just the occasion, now or never kind of situation. This was my last T20 game playing for India.” His words reflected a mix of gratitude and readiness to pass the baton to the younger generation of Indian cricketers.

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Reflecting on the journey and the significance of the win, Kohli acknowledged the team’s long-awaited triumph in an ICC tournament and praised his teammate Rohit Sharma’s contribution. “We wanted to lift that cup. Wanted to Yes I have, this was an open secret. Not something that I wasn’t going to announce even if we had lost,” he added emotionally.

 

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With a nod to the future, Virt Kohli emphasized, “Time for the next generation to take the T20 game forward.” He expressed gratitude for the support and acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment, knowing that the impact of his decision would sink in over time.

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The retirement announcement marked the end of an era for Kohli in T20Is, concluding a career filled with numerous records and memorable performances on the global stage. His final act in international T20 cricket ended on a high note, lifting the T20 World Cup trophy, a fitting farewell to a remarkable career in the shortest format of the game.