Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has extolled Virat Kohli for his remarkable career in T20 International cricket, highlighting the former Indian captain’s significant contributions to the sport.
India recently clinched the T20 World Cup 2024 title after a thrilling 7-runs win against South Africa in the final, held in the Caribbean. This win marked India’s first T20 World Cup triumph in 13 years.
Virat Kohli, who played a crucial role in India’s victory, announced his retirement from T20I cricket after being named Player of the Match in the final.
Following Kohli’s announcement, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also declared their retirements from the format, surprising the cricketing world.
Virat Kohli ended his T20I career with 4,188 runs, averaging 48.69 with a strike rate of 137.04 across 125 matches.
‘His decisive knock in the final proved why he is irreplaceable’ – Ahmed Shehzad
In a recent interview, Ahmed Shehzad congratulated Kohli on his illustrious career, calling him a legend of his generation. Shehzad emphasized that Kohli’s legacy in T20I cricket is unparalleled and that no player, including Pakistan’s Babar Azam, is worthy of being compared to him.
“Virat Kohli is a legend of our time. His passion for the game was evident every time he stepped on the field. He leaves behind a tremendous legacy in T20Is. Indian cricket will find it challenging to replace him. Comparing Babar Azam or any other player to Kohli is not fair,” Shehzad stated.
Reflecting on Kohli’s performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 final, where he scored a vital 76 off 59 balls, Shehzad noted that despite Kohli’s struggles throughout the tournament, his crucial innings in the final were instrumental in India’s victory.
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“Even though Kohli didn’t perform consistently in the tournament, his decisive knock in the final proved why he is irreplaceable. Celebrating at long-on and long-off, his energy never waned. Destiny favored him, and his final innings secured the World Cup for India,” Shehzad added.
