Virat Kohli announced that the final against South Africa in the T20 World Cup will also be his final appearance for Team India in T20 format. Virat Kohli anchored the innings with a match-winning 59-ball 76 with two sixes and six fours to lift India from a precarious 34 for three inside the powerplay, to a formidable 176 for seven, cornerstone of India's 7-run victory over South Africa.
Virat Kohli's 76 off 59 balls against South Africa was his last innings in a T20I for India, and it did not go in vain. He did not have to think twice to pass the baton to the next-gen players to take the team into the future.
Virat Kohli said after collecting the Man of the Match award that it was his las T20I match for India.
"This was my last T20 World Cup and this is exactly what we wanted to achieve," he said.
"This was an amazing game. I was telling Rohit [Sharma] today when we went out to bat, 'One day you feel like you can't get a run, then you come out and things happen.'
"I'm just really grateful I was able to get the job done for the team on the day that it mattered the most."
Kohli said his plan to step down from T20 internationals was an "open secret", and intended to give the next generation of talent an opportunity to build the team of the future.
"It was a now or never situation. This is my last T20 game playing for India, it's the last World Cup I was going to play, so I wanted to make the most of it."
Virat Kohli, who was part of the 2011 ODI World Cup triumph, announced his retirement from the format after being adjudged player of the match for his 76-run knock. He wore a detached look on his face after the win but broke down eventually.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
