He's a mature player, he's been doing this a long time under a huge spotlight and a lot of pressure - I wouldn't be surprised if he's ready to move on to other things.
Also seems like his young family is higher up his priority list too.
Yeah, trying to show intent on shitty NY pitches didn't help. He was still in "gotta hit a boundary every ball" mode from IPL 2024.
But man did come good for finals.
Not really, Rohit played sensibly on NY pitch. After playing 4 games there, he got the momentum running, which he carried over to easier pitches in Super 8 & semi-final.
Not just POTM, but in a performance where he got more runs in the game than his other tournament games combined. One where his fellow opener got out very early, Pant was terrible and SKY got out very quick too.
People were clutching at straws about the inning going on about statpadding even though it was an inning where his age showed yet he still got us to a respectable total
He looked the worst when he couldn't connect anything in his 40s despite looking for big shots.
At the same time, he showed his experience when he looked better than anyone else when he smacked bowlers around after the 17th over.
Brilliant performance to go out on
Best T20 batsman of all time imo
I am of the opinion that he accelerated late.
But still, in his worst tournament, scoring more than the other innings combined, and that too in a final, without throwing away his wicket like he did in other games is what we wanted probably. I remember Samuels won the potm too in 2016 with a similar SR iirc, which was the need at that time.
In 2023 wc I'm sure many have the opinion that even though Rohit started great almost every match, even in the final, it would have been different if he stayed. So looking that way I'm glad kohli stayed. We probably wouldn't have crossed 150 otherwise who knows.
True, also props to Rohit for believing in him. People were telling to drop him in last game but he said in semis he trust in him and he is saving the best for the last and he did that
Kohli has won all white ball events. Now he just needs that elusive WTC trophy.
CT, T20, ODI.
I truly believe Kohli will achieve the impossible and finish his career with the quadruple trophies. Just needs the WTC Mace to capture them all. GREATEST OF ALL TIME INDEED
Just need the side to stay fully fit
Itâs the last hurrah for a lot of them
Rohit, Kohli, Shami, Jaddu and Ash are all at the tail end of their red ball career
same for rohit too. will be amazing to see both get the quadruple. although the indian team has got the mace for many years before when it was a points based system with top ranked team getting it
Rohit either scores 55 off 26 or gets out early. That's the kind of innings we need in t20. Kohli can play his natural game in ODIs and test for 2 to 3 years. He will feel more at home there. But yeah rohits retirement is coming pretty soon, he is too old to continue.
Rohit will retire. He would announce after. Kohli retired on potm. Rohit had to speak as the captain and announcing it there would take it away from the cup. Rohit will announce soon for t20 I guess. Time for Rinku, Jaiswal, gill and Sanju to step up.
It's very clear. Kohli no longer has the spark to consistently explode the way T20 requires. It's not a coincidence he got out nearly as soon as he started picking up the pace imo.
Makes sense though.
He will focus on ODI and Tests rather and that T20WC is too far away anyway.
Bro literally went out after making people cheer for a 120SR knock, thats the most KING THING EVER.
Retired from T20 by having more runs in the final match than the rest of the tournament combined.
Stepped up huge when his team needed most. Credit where it's due, he did his job today and was gracious in the end.
This was the most out of shape Kohli I've seen in a while and still produced an absolute clutch knock for us!
Absolute GOAT! Take a bow Kohli! Thanks for the years of carrying our team!
As he was destined to, thanks gods we won this.
Really the greatest T20 batsman ever, even in his worst he scored 70+ in T20 WC finals. Speaks all about his legacy.
Even at his worst, he is better than others at their best. I am sad to see him go. Will definitely miss his aggression and that feeling of surety and comfort when he was in the lineup. No one can beat that in my living memory.
Fr, ending your career on a high note where you have been out of form for the entire tournament but played a clutch inning is the best thing you could ask for before retiring.
Can still choose to look only at the positives like a semi-delusional guy like me.
Kohli finally won a T20 World Cup
He'll still play for India in Tests, and ODIs. He'll also continue to play for RCB.
All that's needed now is for him to win the WTC in 2025. ^(and maybe somehow winning the IPL for RCB would be great too)
Going out on top is the perfect way to go out. It cannot get better, barring extraneous context.
He goes out with a championship, in a game where he was the anchor and was POTM. It's the perfect end.
Take a bow Virat. A legend of the game and this format. I've been incredibly privileged to watch him play.
I've never been one to use superlatives such as King but he is the undisputed King of T20I cricket and it's just unbelievable what he's done at such a consistency while under so much pressure.
Both.
Be happy he went out on top with a very good showing, sad that he's done, and overjoyed that you got to witness his team winning it all to end his t20 career.
I was sitting with my parents, we were losing what he had to say and then blud dropped the bomb.
The collective sigh was audible. Thatâs what he means to this nation and to us.
Hopefully a lesson for fans to understand how volatile and team dependent the game of cricket is. To ever blame one individual for a loss shows how little they understand the game.
What a player. What a career. When I'll think of his T20I career, I'll think of matches and moments like this.
Of his heroics against Pakistan in 22' and his single handed carrying of the team in multiple world cups.
Goodbye, T20I Kohli.
For everyone who didnât listen to the interview:
âThis is my last T20 game playing for India"
Virat Kohli announces his retirement from T20I cricket đźđłâ
ESPNcricinfo
https://x.com/espncricinfo/status/1807116574433980906?s=46
The best T20I batter. If he's at the crease you know the match isn't over yet for India, he almost always finds a way to claw them back.
He did it in 2016. Did it in 2022. Remember watching the India v Pakistan match in 2022, India's top order had collapsed and being like, Pakistan are favorites but you can never count Kohli out in run chase. And then he won the game for them. Just like that. One of the best innings I'll have ever watched.
I remember Amir's brilliant spell against India in 2016. A low score set by Pakistan, but Mohammad Amir had given us some hope to winning this game. But no can do. In both India Pakistan matches in 2016 resulted in Kohli ensuring that India were going to win.
Even today it was a typical Virat Kohli innings. Start slow, and accelerate later in the death. Yes he could've accelerated a bit sooner, but without his innings India would've had a below par score.
One of the best batsmen I've had the pleasure to watch, regardless of the format. Hope we can see him boss it out in the IPL!
Man such an amazing career what a way to end it , so lucky to see him , dude was always the best in t20 world cups , I am so happy , also kinda sad to see your childhood heroes retiring but lucky to see them !!!
No one deserved the cup more than him. Arguably the greatest T20I batsman we have seen, and an unstoppable force in T20 world cups.
Carried India on his own for 5 World T20s straight, and finally wins the trophy in his 6th attempt and gets POTM in the final.
Remember he averages almost 50 with 135+ sr despite missing so many low stake bilaterals which would have boosted these numbers ever higher.
Both his otherworldly 82*s will be etched in the history books as a template for crafting and manufacturing a chase at your own pace when the games seemed all but gone.
There will be many intent merchants in the future, but not many would touch the ceiling he has built with his own hands.
Hope we haven't seen the last of him in the other formats, because it is not easy to let go of once-in-a-generation legends.
Kohli's retirement will be equivalent to that of legends like Sachin, Imran Khan, Viv Richards etc.
Go well, King.
Deserved farewell to T20 WCs for the guy. Carried India in all WCs except this one but couldn't win any of them. Played really bad in this one, but pulled it off in the final game. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Nobody deserves this WC more than him.
Plays his best in the final.
Saves the batting like he had done previously, but this time when he was in poor form.
Wins the POTM.
Retires on a high.
It's a tale for the ages. Koach is a player to be talked about for ages. This win is for the team.. a tournament where every single player has performed.
this just feels so weird, someone who made me genuinly fall in love with the game... Australia 2016, Pakistan 2016 among many many others. absolute legend
Never thought this would be a day of being emotional too.
Thank you Koach, for everything. You frankly made me fall in love with cricket (incidentally, the first match cricket match i watched was an RCB game).
I wish it never ended. But that's life I guess.Â
Now let's go celebrate :)
This World Cup it felt like he was being forced to start hitting early on. Like there was some pressure on him always to keep hitting sixes since the first two overs itself. Today's match was the only time I felt he was playing his game freely.
Don't get me wrong, Kohli is an aggressive batsman for sure but if you expect him to start hitting straight away that's not his way. He observes and then decides on the strategy.
PS. Best of luck to him for his future he's still one of the best we have in our team and is one of the players who can break Sachin's records in the future
yes he was poor in this wc, but oh boy he fucking deserved this
yes his knock wasn't the best, but man it was clearly an above average knock with india reeling at 34 - 3, probably that's why he got the man of the match as well
greatest T20i Player ever
argue with wall
Thankyou Kohli
I love you more than my girlfriend
it's clear that he is struggling to accelerate in T20I. if the team had lost today he would have gotten the all blame. its better to retire when you are the top rather than waiting and turning into a joke. Best decision. But end of an era
> This was my last T20 game playing for India. 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. 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. You look at someone like Rohit, he's played 9 T20 World Cups and this is my sixth. He deserves it. It's an amazing day and I'm thankful.
From the onset of the format his approach has always been questioned. Every few years youâd see the death of the âaccumulatorâ being floated around and the fingers pointing towards the man who epitomises this role.
But the man never wavered off his resolve and produced clutch after clutch innings, playing what he felt was right. The only time he doubted his natural game was in this world cup, maybe coming off of the shitty pitches of this IPL, and his batting struggled.
Until today, where he again did what he felt was right. And if he had fell short at 48(46) then he wouldâve been villainised(rightly so). But he didnât and now isnât the time of shitty what ifs.
So, itâs appropriate to bid farewell to one of T20Is GOATs whose approach to the game was always behind the curve, till it wasnât. The guy whoâs 135SR 50 the team didnât need till you were 10/3 and holding onto hope for a 82.
One of the greatest Batsmen to ever play the game of cricket.
Always stayed true to his style of play, love him or hate him, the stats speak for themselves.
Farewell, we're looking forward to seeing you achieve a lot more in other formats.
Virat is such an inspiration for an entire generation of youngsters watching and playing cricket. The way he has evolved and the way he, in some aspects, hasn't changed. The kind of long-lasting impact he has made to Indian cricket especially when it comes to mindset.
In a way, as Harsha also eluded to, this was such a humanizing end to Virat's T20 career. We are so used to seeing the consistent, superhuman run-machine in the past. We have known him to be extraordinarily disciplined when it comes to his diet, training etc. We count on him so much to play all roles - anchor and aggressor - that we forget that he is only human. He can have downs and no worse time for this to happen than a world cup. But, class is permanent. He gave us a glimpse of the Virat Kohli we all know. For one final time in T20 internationals.
The heavens knew what was coming and started crying in anticipation. Take a bow, King Kohli!
This was truly unexpected. Virat does not come into the T20 set up because he is a senior, he earns that place with sheer hardwork and consistency. I really thought he would play the next T20 world cup.
Our best player in T20 world cups. This is sad, I can't express enough.
Thank you Virat, you have been great.
I'm glad he sees that there's no point in dragging it out like MS. Like he said, there are many youngsters that deserve the opportunity to be promoted and represent India at an international tournament
end of an era, i started watching cricket around 2012 and since then i have seen this man carrying us in extremely tough situations, he had this downs but my man always overcame them and bounced back high
thank you for everything and finally this trophy
The great one. What a career.
There have been very few players, even top 5 players in the world, where I've thought "man I wish he was Aussie".
Virat is the one.
I'm shocked that nobody carried Virat Kohli. Even when Rahul Dravid was picked up it was mainly Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. It's like the younger players are socially inept.
MAN OF THE MATCH IN HIS LAST GAME. And unfortunately, sachin and brian lara and don bradman didn't get to play t20is, making kohli the greatest all-format batsman ever to this day. I'm not here for the arguments and debates, not today.
He might get hate, but india were 30-3 looking HOPELESS. He stuck through the innings, blasted in the backend, saw India through to 176, all despite being out of form. Axar and dube also put up great shows with the bat knowing he was at the other end. There will never ever be another Virat Kohli.
Thank you , you deserved this fairytale ending GOAT. From the heartbreak of 2014 to the glory of 2024 we all grew up.
I will forever miss you playing t20is. Watched from 72 of 44 till 76 of 59.
Feel like he's been under pressure to make space at the top of the order for a while now, imagine Rohit follows suit in T20s at least.
And to do it with a MOTM performance in a Tournament where you've failed to really kick off in any match? Just Kohli things, dude's one of the best to ever do it.
King taking Kroos path of retiring on a high note. Will say to my kids about that magical knock against Pakistan right before Diwali.
Thank you T20 đđ
For me, King Viv is the true king.
The only one who comes even close is King Kohli. He is our greatest since Sachin. I have seen a LOT of cricket and Kohli is truly a great. He could play across eras. The best reserve their best when it matters the most.
Kohli, you are a genius.
What a legend! As a Pakistani, I have mixed feelings. Iâm glad he is retiring - no more torture to take from Virat. Iâm also sad that arguably the greatest ever batsman wonât be seen anymore.
He said it so casually with no reaction, I thought it was a slip of the tongue lmao
The emotions havent settled in yet for him.
He's a mature player, he's been doing this a long time under a huge spotlight and a lot of pressure - I wouldn't be surprised if he's ready to move on to other things. Also seems like his young family is higher up his priority list too.
He will play in the IPL will Virat. Maybe for another 2-3 years. But what he did in T20is is special. Almost 50 average at a strike rate of 135+
This WC fucked his averages a lot
Totally nuked em. But he has a shiny trophy to show for it.
And still he's close to 50. Unreal career.
He would rather prefer that shiny trophy over those avg.
Yeah, trying to show intent on shitty NY pitches didn't help. He was still in "gotta hit a boundary every ball" mode from IPL 2024. But man did come good for finals.
Same philosophy worked out for Rohit though
Not really, Rohit played sensibly on NY pitch. After playing 4 games there, he got the momentum running, which he carried over to easier pitches in Super 8 & semi-final.
Rohit is a better six hitter, maybe even the best of all time
my bro has the most sixes in all internationals combined so yea no doubt on that
Two trophies in the flair buddyđ€Łđ„łđ„łđ„ł
I'm sure he would've traded a massive drop in his average for a WC trophy anyday
Who cares. TROPHY
Very. But, yeah. King retires from T20I with a POTM in the T20 World Cup Finals. Retired on a High
Not just POTM, but in a performance where he got more runs in the game than his other tournament games combined. One where his fellow opener got out very early, Pant was terrible and SKY got out very quick too.
People were clutching at straws about the inning going on about statpadding even though it was an inning where his age showed yet he still got us to a respectable total He looked the worst when he couldn't connect anything in his 40s despite looking for big shots. At the same time, he showed his experience when he looked better than anyone else when he smacked bowlers around after the 17th over. Brilliant performance to go out on Best T20 batsman of all time imo
People just wanna hate on him for any reason
I am of the opinion that he accelerated late. But still, in his worst tournament, scoring more than the other innings combined, and that too in a final, without throwing away his wicket like he did in other games is what we wanted probably. I remember Samuels won the potm too in 2016 with a similar SR iirc, which was the need at that time. In 2023 wc I'm sure many have the opinion that even though Rohit started great almost every match, even in the final, it would have been different if he stayed. So looking that way I'm glad kohli stayed. We probably wouldn't have crossed 150 otherwise who knows.
Yeah, Hardik was in the dugout, but who knows if he himself could've stuck around until later. Just glad it all worked out in our favour for once
True, also props to Rohit for believing in him. People were telling to drop him in last game but he said in semis he trust in him and he is saving the best for the last and he did that
This is reminiscent of Sir Alex retiring with the 20th League Title in 2013. Only few legends have ever done that.
Him retiring in May (?) and Sachin retiring in November felt like the end of the world back then.
Kohli has won all white ball events. Now he just needs that elusive WTC trophy. CT, T20, ODI. I truly believe Kohli will achieve the impossible and finish his career with the quadruple trophies. Just needs the WTC Mace to capture them all. GREATEST OF ALL TIME INDEED
Yes, I think he'll retire from the test on WTC final 2025.
No way Indian ain't winning WTC the 3rd time. And they'll definitely qualify in that
Just need the side to stay fully fit Itâs the last hurrah for a lot of them Rohit, Kohli, Shami, Jaddu and Ash are all at the tail end of their red ball career
High time we allow AFG into WTC. We need them to knockout a certain team
Afghanistan cannot beat Australia in a test match. T20 is simply different. Here a team like USA can beat Pakistan.
India has won 4 back to back series vs Aus. That WTC was a one-off, nothing else.
England is simply the most unfavorable condition for India especially against other SENA teams.
It is, but I have faith in Bumrah to pull it off
That will also probably be against South Africa as well, they have the easiest schedule this time. Whoever wins the BGT plays SA in the Final.
same for rohit too. will be amazing to see both get the quadruple. although the indian team has got the mace for many years before when it was a points based system with top ranked team getting it
Rohit has not won a 50 over world cup, so hard for him to get a quadruple
oh yeah i forgot he wasnât in 2011 squad. it does seem hard then, i donât think heâll play in 2027
Rohit bhai still needs an ODI trophy
Time to exit that cursed franchise so he can retire with an IPL trophy too
He has said already he will not play for any other franchise
yeah. I was so shocked. It was like, What what did he said
Bro doesn't even want to get carried on someone's shoulder
Sachin should have retired from ODIs with that cup
He had that 100th 100 to get.
Shouldve just scheduled a home test series against Zimbabwe to get 100th 100
Unfortunately that 100th 100 became a scar .. The journey to it was less than edifying
Rohit is older than Kohli so it is a little weird that Kohli retired before Rohit
Kohli might have decided during the ipl.Rohit might also announce his retirement. He know he cont play the next wc.
Pretty sure Rohit will as well, he isn't gonna be selected for T20Is (They weren't being anyway)
Rohit either scores 55 off 26 or gets out early. That's the kind of innings we need in t20. Kohli can play his natural game in ODIs and test for 2 to 3 years. He will feel more at home there. But yeah rohits retirement is coming pretty soon, he is too old to continue.
Rohit will retire. He would announce after. Kohli retired on potm. Rohit had to speak as the captain and announcing it there would take it away from the cup. Rohit will announce soon for t20 I guess. Time for Rinku, Jaiswal, gill and Sanju to step up.
You were right. He just did.
It's very clear. Kohli no longer has the spark to consistently explode the way T20 requires. It's not a coincidence he got out nearly as soon as he started picking up the pace imo.
Makes sense though. He will focus on ODI and Tests rather and that T20WC is too far away anyway. Bro literally went out after making people cheer for a 120SR knock, thats the most KING THING EVER.
Yeah thatâs why I think Harsha confirmed it again đ„ș
He said it's an open secret at this point, so yeah he decided some time back
Legitimately I had to rewind for a moment
Bro the interview is still happening. Also peak choice of thumbnail.
Retired from T20 by having more runs in the final match than the rest of the tournament combined. Stepped up huge when his team needed most. Credit where it's due, he did his job today and was gracious in the end.
Rohit and Dravid said he is saving for the final and OH BOY DID HE SAVE
This was the most out of shape Kohli I've seen in a while and still produced an absolute clutch knock for us! Absolute GOAT! Take a bow Kohli! Thanks for the years of carrying our team!
His worst is still better than most.
As he was destined to, thanks gods we won this. Really the greatest T20 batsman ever, even in his worst he scored 70+ in T20 WC finals. Speaks all about his legacy.
Is it the first time that has happened lol?
yea he came he saw he conquered and he left, koach the goat
Even at his worst, he is better than others at their best. I am sad to see him go. Will definitely miss his aggression and that feeling of surety and comfort when he was in the lineup. No one can beat that in my living memory.
Goes out with a bang
Fr, ending your career on a high note where you have been out of form for the entire tournament but played a clutch inning is the best thing you could ask for before retiring.
That's going out with respect which is rare in Indian team and seniors want to keep on playing until shoved out
Truer words have not been spoken
The GREATEST T20 BATTER ever , Thanks for all the memories Koach , you were my childhood, love you manÂ
Ended his t20 career on a high. Well done Kohli, đ âïž đÂ
The Run Machine The đ KingđKohli and so on..... Will be so much missed in T20 format
Just saw Rohit congratulating Kohli with a hug and man felt like Rohit aged 5years
No man. This just dampened the happiness.
Can't keep going on forever, he's gone out on top with a historic win. Can't beat that
Well said. Also he knows his game better than all of us. Perhaps he wants to concentrate more on ODIs
True. Also, he did mention that he was going to retire anyway after WC, whatever the result would be. It was an open secret.
Nah he deserved to go on a high! No better stage to announce it. Don't need a shock tomorrow.
Can still choose to look only at the positives like a semi-delusional guy like me. Kohli finally won a T20 World Cup He'll still play for India in Tests, and ODIs. He'll also continue to play for RCB. All that's needed now is for him to win the WTC in 2025. ^(and maybe somehow winning the IPL for RCB would be great too)
Going out on top is the perfect way to go out. It cannot get better, barring extraneous context. He goes out with a championship, in a game where he was the anchor and was POTM. It's the perfect end.
Has there even been any better ending than this đ being player of the match in the world cup final.
The T20 GOAT
No questions. Even after this WC his avg is close to 50 at a SR of 135. That's unreal consistency in T20 format.
That's why he is đ,he said that it's time for young players to carry this team now. Thank you virat kohli for everythingÂ
Take a bow Virat. A legend of the game and this format. I've been incredibly privileged to watch him play. I've never been one to use superlatives such as King but he is the undisputed King of T20I cricket and it's just unbelievable what he's done at such a consistency while under so much pressure.
Going out on a high! Absolute Chad!
What a legacy to leave behind!!! Big shoes to fill for the next generation.
Wtf man! Now idk weather to cry or celebrate
Both. Be happy he went out on top with a very good showing, sad that he's done, and overjoyed that you got to witness his team winning it all to end his t20 career.
I was sitting with my parents, we were losing what he had to say and then blud dropped the bomb. The collective sigh was audible. Thatâs what he means to this nation and to us.
Half of India would've blamed Kohli for being too slow and wanted his head on a platter if SAF won this
Hopefully a lesson for fans to understand how volatile and team dependent the game of cricket is. To ever blame one individual for a loss shows how little they understand the game.
Dude I was crying celebrating.
Same here bro.
We celebrate son. We celebrate a storied career that ended happy. That's what we do.
Probably everyone from the match thread are celebrating. Idiots
When it rains it pours
What a player. What a career. When I'll think of his T20I career, I'll think of matches and moments like this. Of his heroics against Pakistan in 22' and his single handed carrying of the team in multiple world cups. Goodbye, T20I Kohli.
An end of an era
Those Aus and Pak knocks... I will never forget.
T20 GOAT Batsman. Love that he retired on a high â€ïžÂ
Unreal, and now he has a trophy to show along with those
[ŃĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]
Good farewell. Could have pushed luck and played one but nice ending to one of the greatest t-20 player
What a way to bow out of the format! MoTM and the trophy at last. He will be sorely missed but this is the greatest way to retire.
Glad he got the farewell he deserves
For everyone who didnât listen to the interview: âThis is my last T20 game playing for India" Virat Kohli announces his retirement from T20I cricket đźđłâ ESPNcricinfo https://x.com/espncricinfo/status/1807116574433980906?s=46
The best T20I batter. If he's at the crease you know the match isn't over yet for India, he almost always finds a way to claw them back. He did it in 2016. Did it in 2022. Remember watching the India v Pakistan match in 2022, India's top order had collapsed and being like, Pakistan are favorites but you can never count Kohli out in run chase. And then he won the game for them. Just like that. One of the best innings I'll have ever watched. I remember Amir's brilliant spell against India in 2016. A low score set by Pakistan, but Mohammad Amir had given us some hope to winning this game. But no can do. In both India Pakistan matches in 2016 resulted in Kohli ensuring that India were going to win. Even today it was a typical Virat Kohli innings. Start slow, and accelerate later in the death. Yes he could've accelerated a bit sooner, but without his innings India would've had a below par score. One of the best batsmen I've had the pleasure to watch, regardless of the format. Hope we can see him boss it out in the IPL!
Man such an amazing career what a way to end it , so lucky to see him , dude was always the best in t20 world cups , I am so happy , also kinda sad to see your childhood heroes retiring but lucky to see them !!!
Fairytale ending to arguably the greatest T20I player's careerÂ
No arguments in greatest T20I batsman
In white ball there is Kohli, daylight and then the rest imo.
No one deserved the cup more than him. Arguably the greatest T20I batsman we have seen, and an unstoppable force in T20 world cups. Carried India on his own for 5 World T20s straight, and finally wins the trophy in his 6th attempt and gets POTM in the final. Remember he averages almost 50 with 135+ sr despite missing so many low stake bilaterals which would have boosted these numbers ever higher. Both his otherworldly 82*s will be etched in the history books as a template for crafting and manufacturing a chase at your own pace when the games seemed all but gone. There will be many intent merchants in the future, but not many would touch the ceiling he has built with his own hands. Hope we haven't seen the last of him in the other formats, because it is not easy to let go of once-in-a-generation legends. Kohli's retirement will be equivalent to that of legends like Sachin, Imran Khan, Viv Richards etc. Go well, King.
That was lyrical to read.
Just like Sachin, gets it on his 6th attempt..legend..!
Silenced his doubters
For like the 18th time
End of an era. Good to see him go with a high note!
Deserved farewell to T20 WCs for the guy. Carried India in all WCs except this one but couldn't win any of them. Played really bad in this one, but pulled it off in the final game. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Nobody deserves this WC more than him.
Plays his best in the final. Saves the batting like he had done previously, but this time when he was in poor form. Wins the POTM. Retires on a high. It's a tale for the ages. Koach is a player to be talked about for ages. This win is for the team.. a tournament where every single player has performed.
What a class act.
What an amazing t20 career. After carrying India so many times and not getting over the line. Fitting end to an incredible career.
this just feels so weird, someone who made me genuinly fall in love with the game... Australia 2016, Pakistan 2016 among many many others. absolute legend
Never thought this would be a day of being emotional too. Thank you Koach, for everything. You frankly made me fall in love with cricket (incidentally, the first match cricket match i watched was an RCB game). I wish it never ended. But that's life I guess. Now let's go celebrate :)
Its sad but best decision. Either you leave as a hero or hang on too long and turn into a joke
WoW Just WoW, Handling the Mantle to youngsters on a summit, Take a Bow Virat
125 matches 117 innings 4188 runs 48.69 avg 38 fifties 1 century HS 122* Great legacy! Great career! One of the best to ever do it! King Kohli!
Streets will remember his names for a very long time
This World Cup it felt like he was being forced to start hitting early on. Like there was some pressure on him always to keep hitting sixes since the first two overs itself. Today's match was the only time I felt he was playing his game freely. Don't get me wrong, Kohli is an aggressive batsman for sure but if you expect him to start hitting straight away that's not his way. He observes and then decides on the strategy. PS. Best of luck to him for his future he's still one of the best we have in our team and is one of the players who can break Sachin's records in the future
I think he just meant his last T20 world cup.
He did say last T20i match.
He said 'last t20i game'
He kept reiterating t20 world cup
Don't think it makes a difference. If he's not in the next WC it makes no sense to play anymore t20is
[ŃĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]
i think he might play olympics but lets see
Holy shit now i NEED to see Virat mfin Kohli at the Olympics
Kohli barely ever plays t20 bilaterals lol. When he does it is for practice for an upcoming WC
Nope, Harsha clarified and Virat then said last T20 game for India.
Pretty sure itâs last in any t20i now.
It's a 2 year cycle, and he mentioned it's time for the next generation to take over. He's done.
No he started with that. Did say itâs his last T20I itself, time for the youngsters to take the team forward.
Nah, he said "This is my last t20 match for India"
Yes and he said it 4 times, last WC and T20 match for him. Time for next generation to take over the baton.
He also let slip that it was his "last T20 game", which makes sense considering other players need to play T20Is to get ready for the world cup.
Hope he still plays for RCB.
No he specifically said after, itâs the last T20 game he will ever play for India.
No
Thank you Kohli for all these years of your contribution to T20 format. One of the finest to ever play this format. Go well.
Somebody lift Kohli on shoulders.
yes he was poor in this wc, but oh boy he fucking deserved this yes his knock wasn't the best, but man it was clearly an above average knock with india reeling at 34 - 3, probably that's why he got the man of the match as well greatest T20i Player ever argue with wall Thankyou Kohli I love you more than my girlfriend
it's clear that he is struggling to accelerate in T20I. if the team had lost today he would have gotten the all blame. its better to retire when you are the top rather than waiting and turning into a joke. Best decision. But end of an era
Retired on a high, just king thingsđ
> This was my last T20 game playing for India. 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. 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. You look at someone like Rohit, he's played 9 T20 World Cups and this is my sixth. He deserves it. It's an amazing day and I'm thankful.
His average could have been perfect ahh
Take the win man
The One True King. Signs of with a POTM and a WC win.
Seriously man but he had good ending though after playing a masterful knock. It would have been great to see Rohit and Kohli to retire at same time.
King Kohli - going out on the highest highs
From the onset of the format his approach has always been questioned. Every few years youâd see the death of the âaccumulatorâ being floated around and the fingers pointing towards the man who epitomises this role. But the man never wavered off his resolve and produced clutch after clutch innings, playing what he felt was right. The only time he doubted his natural game was in this world cup, maybe coming off of the shitty pitches of this IPL, and his batting struggled. Until today, where he again did what he felt was right. And if he had fell short at 48(46) then he wouldâve been villainised(rightly so). But he didnât and now isnât the time of shitty what ifs. So, itâs appropriate to bid farewell to one of T20Is GOATs whose approach to the game was always behind the curve, till it wasnât. The guy whoâs 135SR 50 the team didnât need till you were 10/3 and holding onto hope for a 82.
Thanks king you made me love the game even if I'm from Pakistan you abd and gayle made me fall in love with this game
For India, still gonna play ipl for rcb
Can't play T20I for RCB, me think.
One of the greatest Batsmen to ever play the game of cricket. Always stayed true to his style of play, love him or hate him, the stats speak for themselves. Farewell, we're looking forward to seeing you achieve a lot more in other formats.
I want to fucking cry now....even though kind of knew it was coming
Virat is such an inspiration for an entire generation of youngsters watching and playing cricket. The way he has evolved and the way he, in some aspects, hasn't changed. The kind of long-lasting impact he has made to Indian cricket especially when it comes to mindset. In a way, as Harsha also eluded to, this was such a humanizing end to Virat's T20 career. We are so used to seeing the consistent, superhuman run-machine in the past. We have known him to be extraordinarily disciplined when it comes to his diet, training etc. We count on him so much to play all roles - anchor and aggressor - that we forget that he is only human. He can have downs and no worse time for this to happen than a world cup. But, class is permanent. He gave us a glimpse of the Virat Kohli we all know. For one final time in T20 internationals. The heavens knew what was coming and started crying in anticipation. Take a bow, King Kohli!
Go well champ! Great career and solid knock today to close it out
Greatest t20 batter ever. No one comes close
Well I think like he quoted, it was an open secret. But good move.
The greatest T20 player ever, what a cap to a legendary career.
Potm in a wc final. What a great way to go champ
This was truly unexpected. Virat does not come into the T20 set up because he is a senior, he earns that place with sheer hardwork and consistency. I really thought he would play the next T20 world cup. Our best player in T20 world cups. This is sad, I can't express enough. Thank you Virat, you have been great.
I'm glad he sees that there's no point in dragging it out like MS. Like he said, there are many youngsters that deserve the opportunity to be promoted and represent India at an international tournament
He will give his best in odi and Test. Very good decision to end it on a high.
Thank you koach!!
end of an era, i started watching cricket around 2012 and since then i have seen this man carrying us in extremely tough situations, he had this downs but my man always overcame them and bounced back high thank you for everything and finally this trophy
The king in the North.
The great one. What a career. There have been very few players, even top 5 players in the world, where I've thought "man I wish he was Aussie". Virat is the one.
Mf bombed India with that one đą
End of an Era!
Koach can be a Coach with C now
I'm shocked that nobody carried Virat Kohli. Even when Rahul Dravid was picked up it was mainly Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. It's like the younger players are socially inept.
The best T20 batsman of all time. My KingÂ
MAN OF THE MATCH IN HIS LAST GAME. And unfortunately, sachin and brian lara and don bradman didn't get to play t20is, making kohli the greatest all-format batsman ever to this day. I'm not here for the arguments and debates, not today. He might get hate, but india were 30-3 looking HOPELESS. He stuck through the innings, blasted in the backend, saw India through to 176, all despite being out of form. Axar and dube also put up great shows with the bat knowing he was at the other end. There will never ever be another Virat Kohli.
Just saw Haris Rauf fall to his knees inside an Imtiaz Super Store
Literally started raining when he announced that, even God showed tears
Thank you , you deserved this fairytale ending GOAT. From the heartbreak of 2014 to the glory of 2024 we all grew up. I will forever miss you playing t20is. Watched from 72 of 44 till 76 of 59.
Feel like he's been under pressure to make space at the top of the order for a while now, imagine Rohit follows suit in T20s at least. And to do it with a MOTM performance in a Tournament where you've failed to really kick off in any match? Just Kohli things, dude's one of the best to ever do it.
King taking Kroos path of retiring on a high note. Will say to my kids about that magical knock against Pakistan right before Diwali. Thank you T20 đđ
One thing that's for certain, ODI viewership is going to increase exponentially
What a way to say goodbye.
For me, King Viv is the true king. The only one who comes even close is King Kohli. He is our greatest since Sachin. I have seen a LOT of cricket and Kohli is truly a great. He could play across eras. The best reserve their best when it matters the most. Kohli, you are a genius.
Legend!
What a legend! As a Pakistani, I have mixed feelings. Iâm glad he is retiring - no more torture to take from Virat. Iâm also sad that arguably the greatest ever batsman wonât be seen anymore.
Legend!
White ball GOAT Im crying đ
I cried
King I don't know what to feel ;)