Indian team returns home Live Updates: Updated
Indian batting giant Virat Kohli arrives at the ITC Maurya Hotel in Delhi.
Virat announced his retirement from T20 Internationals after leading India to their second T20 World Cup victory.
Kohli’s match-deciding 76 off 59 balls, including two sixes and six fours, lifted India from a precarious 34 for 3 in the powerplay to a remarkable 176 for seven and set the foundation for India’s seven-run victory over South Africa.
After receiving the Man of the Match award, Kohli said that this will be his last T20I match for India.
“This was my last T20 World Cup and this is exactly what we wanted to achieve,” Kohli said on air after India won their first global tournament in 11 years.
“Some days you feel you are not scoring runs and these things happen. God is great. (It’s) a now or never situation. This was my last T20 match to play for India. We wanted to lift that cup,” he said.
“Yes, I have announced it. It was an open secret (retirement). I was not going to not announce it even if I had lost. It is time for the next generation to take the T20 game forward,” Kohli admitted when asked if he would formally announce his retirement.
“We have waited a long time to win an ICC tournament. A player like Rohit (Sharma) has played nine T20 World Cups but for me this is my sixth,” he said.
“He deserves it. It was difficult to contain the emotions but I think it will sink in later. It was a great day and I’m grateful,” Kohli added.