Virat Kohli Opens Up On 'Perfect Finish' After Helping India Overcome 13-Year World Cup Trophy Drought- WATCH

Virat Kohli reflected on the unpredictability of sports and underscored the importance of humility after announcing retirement from T20Is as India lifted a World Cup after 13 years.

Virat Kohli finished off in a fairytale style as he announced retirement from T20Is after India won the T20 World Cup 2024 beating South Africa by seven runs at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29 (Saturday). In the final match, Kohli played a crucial innings of 76 runs off 59 deliveries, rescuing the Indian cricket team from a shaky start.

His performance was instrumental in guiding India to their second T20 World Cup title, breaking a 13-year World Cup trophy drought. Kohli's contribution earned him the Player of the Match award.

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Virat Kohli Emphasizes Learning Over Award

Speaking to the tournament's official broadcaster, Kohli expressed that the World Cup trophy underscores the unpredictability of sport and the value of humility. He referenced what transpired in Melbourne back in the 2022 T20 World Cup where he single-handedly won India the game against Pakistan. He considered the T20 World Cup 2024 his farewell from international T20s, believing it's the right moment to retire after a fulfilling career.

"Honestly, more than the award, what struck me today is significant. As I told you in Melbourne, you think you're in control, but moments like these remind you that so much is beyond your control. In such times, humility and respect for the game and the occasion are all you can rely on to move forward. This experience has been a profound lesson for me, even at this stage of my career, in my last T20 International. This is my last T20 World Cup for India and this is the perfect finish. I couldn't have asked for anything more,” Kohli said while speaking to Star Sports after the match.

In his career spanning 125 T20I matches, Kohli accumulated 4188 runs at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04, placing him as the second-highest scorer in the format. He was also honored with inclusion in the ICC Men's T20I Team of the Decade from 2011 to 2020.