Virat Kohli announces T20I retirement after World Cup victory

Virat Kohli, India's veteran cricketer, has announced his retirement from T20I after India's victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup against South Africa.

Kohli, who scored 76 off 59 balls and earned Player of the Match, revealed this was his final T20 World Cup and last T20I match for India.

"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.

"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 added.

Prior to the final, Kohli had only scored 75 runs in the first seven matches of the tournament.

After India found themselves at 23-2, Kohli formed a crucial partnership with Axar Patel and reached his 39th fifty-plus score in men's T20I cricket, tying the record with Babar Azam.

Babar has 39 fifty plus scores in 123 matches, while Kohli took 126 matches.

Following his fifty, Kohli picked up the pace, adding 26 runs in just 11 balls to help India set a total of 176 for 7 in their 20 overs. With their 176-run total, India posted the highest-ever total in T20 World Cup finals while batting first.

The previous best was by New Zealand, when they scored 172/4 against Australia in the final of 2021 T20 World Cup.