Following Virat Kohli‘s retirement from the T20Is after clinching the ICC T20 World Cup title, his childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma expressed his feelings saying it was a good decision. The Men in Blue got hold of the prestigious T20 WC trophy for the second time, defeating South Africa by seven runs in Barbados on Saturday.
Virat Kohli secured the ‘Player of the Match’ for his performance. By securing their first ICC title since the Champions Trophy in 2013, India has ended their over 10-year ICC trophy drought.
Virat Kohli’s illustrious T20I career
After managing just 75 runs in the first seven innings of the competition, Virat Kohli stepped up when it mattered the most, scoring 76 in 59 balls, with six fours and two sixes. His runs came at a strike rate of 128.81. Virat Kohli ended the edition with 151 runs in eight innings at an average of 18.87 and a strike rate of 112.68, with one fifty.
In 35 T20 World Cup matches, Virat Kohli has scored 1,292 runs at an average of 58.72 and a strike rate of 128.81, with 15 half-centuries. His best score is 89*. He is the highest run-scorer in the history of the tournament.
In 125 T20I matches, Virat Kohli scored 4,188 runs at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04. He scored a century and 38 fifties and a best score of 122*. He ended the format as the second-highest run-getter of all time.
Summarizing the final match of the tournament, India won the toss and opted to bat first. After being reduced to 34/3, a counter-attacking partnership between Virat and Axar Patel of 72 runs restored India’s position in the game. A 57-run stand between Virat and Shivam Dube took India to 176/7 in their 20 overs. Keshav Maharaj and Anrich Nortje were the top bowlers for SA. Marco Jansen and Aiden Markram took a wicket each.
In the run chase of 177 runs, Proteas was reduced to 12/2 and then a 58-run partnership between Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs brought back SA into the game. A half-century by Heinrich Klaasen threatened to take the game away from India. However, Arshdeep Singh , Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik made a fine comeback in death overs, keeping SA to 169/8 in their 20 overs.
Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma hailed his pupils performance in the finals and also shed light in support on his retirement from T20I cricket.
Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma on his T20I retirement
Veteran Indian batter Virat Kohli decided to retire from the T20I format after helping his team win the T20 World Cup final against South Africa. His childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma praised Virat Kohli for his decision, especially after delivering a Player of the Match performance in the final.
Virat Kohli scored 76 runs off 59 balls, helping the Men in Blue post a competitive total of 176/7, which eventually proved to be enough to end their ICC trophy drought. Rajkumar feels that winning the Player of the Match award in the final is the biggest high any player could ask for.
Speaking to Star Sports, Rajkumar Sharma also expressed his appreciation in Virat Kohli wanting to give the youngsters more opportunities in T20Is. He said:
“It is a very big decision that Virat has taken, that too at such a big moment where India has won the T20 World Cup. He also won the Player of the Match in the final which is the highest point for any player. I appreciate his decision as he wants the youngsters to get more chances and so it is a good decision.”
Kohli had claimed while speaking to the host broadcaster that he would have retired from T20Is irrespective of the result of the T20 World Cup final. He retires with a staggering 4,188 runs to his name in 125 T20Is at an average of 48.69.
Virat Kohli will be able to focus more on Test cricket states Rajkumar Sharma
Rajkumar Sharma believes now that Virat Kohli has bid adieu to the shortest format for India, he will be able to focus more on Test cricket.
He said, in the same conversation with Star Sports:
“The advantage of this decision is that he will now be able to focus more on his favorite format, that is Test cricket. He has done well in that format and I feel he will concentrate more there and bring more laurels to the country.”
Captain Rohit Sharma also confirmed that he too had played his last T20I game for India, retiring with 4,231 runs to his name in the format.