Virat Kohli’s T20I career comprises 125 matches, during which he scored 4188 runs, making him the second-highest run-scorer in the format. Rohit Sharma, the only player with more T20I runs than Kohli, has amassed 4231 runs in 159 matches.
Indian cricket legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have declared their retirement from T20 Internationals after leading India to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024 on Saturday.
In the championship match against South Africa, Kohli played a crucial innings, scoring 76 runs off 59 balls. His performance was instrumental in rescuing India from a precarious position at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, ultimately securing India’s second T20 World Cup title, 17 years after their first. For his efforts, Kohli was named Player of the Match.
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“This is my final T20 game for India and my last World Cup,” said the 37-year-old Kohli following the final. “I wanted to give it my all and achieve our goal of winning an ICC tournament. We aimed to lift the cup, and we did. This decision was not dependent on the outcome; it was time for the next generation to step up. India has some incredible talent, and I’m confident they will continue to elevate the team.”
Kohli’s T20I career comprises 125 matches, during which he scored 4188 runs at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04, making him the second-highest run-scorer in the format. Since his debut against Zimbabwe in 2010, Kohli became the fastest player to reach 3500 T20I runs, achieving this milestone in just 96 innings. He also leads the T20 World Cup run charts with 1292 runs in 35 matches and remains the only player to have been the top run-scorer in two different T20 World Cups.
Virat Kohli‘s standout performances include scoring 319 runs in the 2014 World Cup in Bangladesh and 296 runs in the 2022 edition in Australia. His 319 runs in 2014, averaging 106.33, is the highest for any player in a single T20 World Cup edition. He was also honored in the ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Decade from 2011 to 2020.
Rohit Sharma, the only player with more T20I runs than Kohli, has amassed 4231 runs in 159 matches. Debuting in the 2007 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against England, Rohit helped India clinch the trophy under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rohit led India as captain and was the team’s highest run-scorer with 257 runs in eight matches.
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Nicknamed “The Hitman,” Rohit holds the record for the most T20I hundreds (five), tied with Australia’s Glenn Maxwell. As captain, the 35-year-old led India in 62 T20Is, securing 49 wins and 12 losses. Kohli, in comparison, captained 50 matches, with 30 wins and 16 losses.
“This is also my last T20 game,” Rohit Sharma announced after the final, which marked his 50th win as India’s T20 captain. “I have cherished every moment. I began my India career in this format, and I wanted to conclude it with a World Cup victory.”