India secured the T20 World Cup title for the second time by defeating South Africa with a margin of seven runs in the final held in Barbados on Saturday. Following this victory, Kohli declared his retirement from the shortest format of cricket.
Despite a challenging start with only 75 runs across the first seven innings of the tournament, Kohli’s performance peaked in the crucial moments. He scored 76 runs off 59 deliveries in the final, contributing significantly to India’s total with six fours and two sixes, achieving a strike rate of 128.81.
Throughout the tournament, he accumulated 151 runs over eight innings, averaging 18.87 and maintaining a strike rate of 112.68, including a half-century.
Celebratory moments were shared by Kohli’s sister, Bhawna Kohli Dhingra, on her Instagram account, writing, “Celebrating the win SUPERPROUD”.
These images also received acknowledgment from Anushka Sharma, Kohli’s wife and a well-known actress, who liked the posts on Instagram.
The Indian team’s return to Delhi was met with enthusiasm from fans eager to welcome the champions and catch a glimpse of the trophy. The team’s departure from Barbados was delayed due to Hurricane Beryl, a category four hurricane, which led to the closure of Grantley Adams International Airport in Bridgetown for three days.
The flight back to Delhi, organized by BCCI secretary Jay Shah, took off on July 2 and arrived early Thursday morning, carrying team members, support staff, their families, and members of the media.
India’s triumph in the final ended a 13-year wait for an ICC trophy, with the team defeating South Africa by seven runs. Key performances included Kohli’s 76 runs, Hardik Pandya‘s 3/20, and Jasprit Bumrah‘s 2/18, which collectively restricted South Africa to 169/8. Bumrah, with 15 wickets at an economy rate of 4.17, was named the ‘Player of the Tournament.’
To celebrate the victory, the team, led by Rohit Sharma, will partake in an open-top bus parade in Mumbai, passing through Marine Drive and the iconic Wankhede Stadium, starting at 5:00 pm. This event allows fans to join in the celebrations and honor the team’s achievement in winning the prestigious T20 World Cup.
