Virat Kohli announces T20 retirement after helping India to World Cup win
Virat Kohli helped India secure the T20 World Cup with a player-of-the-match performance against South Africa, then immediately announced his retirement from the format.
Kohli, the second highest run-scorer in the history of T20 internationals behind his triumphant captain Rohit Sharma, hit 76 from 59 balls as his side edged a last-over thriller by seven runs in Barbados.
The 35-year-old, who remains the biggest star in the sport, was one of several players from both teams to shed tears at the end of a gripping contest – some in joy, others in despair.
But there was an extra layer of emotion for Kohli, who knew he was bidding farewell after 14 years and 125 appearances.
“This was a now-or-never situation. This is my last T20 game playing for India, my last World Cup, so I wanted to make the most of it,” he said.
“This was an open secret, it’s not something I wasn’t going to announce if we had lost. It’s time for the next generation to take the T20 game forward.
“It’s been a long wait for us, waiting to win an ICC tournament. We wanted to win that cup. It’s been difficult to hold things back and I think it’s going to sink in later. It’s been an amazing day and I’m thankful.”
Kohli, who was seen making a video call to his wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, on the outfield as he took in his side’s victory, saved his best performance of the tournament for the biggest stage.
He had struggled to make an impression throughout the competition, averaging just 10 with a pedestrian strike-rate of a run-a-ball.
Having scored just 75 runs in his previous seven innings, he more than doubled his tournament tally in 59 deliveries at the Kensington Oval as he anchored the innings and led his side to a winning total of 176 for seven.