India’s cricket legend Virat Kohli has finally achieved one of the biggest milestones of his illustrious career — lifting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 trophy. In what turned out to be his last T20I appearance, Kohli guided India to glory with a match-winning knock in the final against South Africa.
Having topped the IPL 2024 charts with 741 runs, Kohli had a lean World Cup until the final. But his 76 off 59 balls in the summit clash helped India clinch their first T20 world title since 2007.
“We were all emotional about it because we had been trying for so long,” Kohli said in a heartfelt chat on the RCB Podcast. “I was more grateful than proud… I knew I was going to retire after that, no matter the outcome.”
Kohli recalled multiple heartbreaks — the 2014 final, 2016 and 2015 semi-finals, and the 2017 Champions Trophy final — and said the 2024 victory was a culmination of resilience, hard work, and belief.
A Final Knock for the Ages
Kohli’s Player of the Match performance came at a time when he had scored just 75 runs in seven previous innings. “I walked in with no confidence,” he admitted. “Then suddenly, you get three boundaries in the first over — and the game just shifts.”
You can watch every Kohli boundary at the T20 World Cup 2024 here.
A Thoughtful Retirement
Kohli had returned to T20Is in January 2024 after more than a year out. Amid changing expectations and criticism of India’s approach in the shortest format, he made a conscious effort to evolve his game.
“I let go of people’s perceptions and focused on timing the ball,” he explained. The final win at age 35 made it a perfect exit.
“The decision is purely based on the fact that a new generation of Indian players is ready to take this format forward,” he added. “They need a cycle of two years to grow and handle pressure.”
Legacy Sealed
With this final T20I knock, Kohli’s record in ICC tournaments is forever immortalized. He ends his T20I career not just as a run-machine, but as the man who brought back World Cup glory to a cricket-crazy nation.
- India wins T20 World Cup 2024 – Full Match Report
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- Kohli’s IPL 2025 Performance: Season Highlights
As India celebrates the end of its ICC title drought, Kohli’s farewell knock stands out not just for its technical brilliance, but for the legacy it leaves behind.
