Star India batter Suryakumar Yadav heaped praise on Virat Kohli, highlighting the significant impact the 35-year-old has had on the team.
The Men in Blue clinched the prestigious T20 World Cup trophy for the second time, defeating South Africa by seven runs in Barbados on Saturday. Following this triumph, Kohli announced his retirement from the shortest format of the game.
Kohli, who had managed just 75 runs in the first seven innings of the competition, rose to the occasion in the final, scoring 76 off 59 balls, with six fours and two sixes, at a strike rate of 128.81. He finished the tournament with 151 runs in eight innings, averaging 18.87 and maintaining a strike rate of 112.68, with one half-century.
India’s skipper, Rohit Sharma, also retired from T20I cricket after the World Cup victory in Barbados.
Speaking to Revsportz, Suryakumar Yadav lavished praise on Kohli, describing him as a ‘phenomenon’ cricketer. He emphasized Kohli’s crucial role in rescuing the team when they were struggling. Suryakumar also expressed his emotional connection to both Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who will be greatly missed in the dressing room.
“He is a phenomenon. We have all learned so much from him. When the chips are down, that’s when he brings out the best in himself. Even when he doesn’t score, you should just see him in the field. He is a livewire. He wants to save every run, take every catch, and his energy is just infectious. That’s the best thing about Virat Kohli. When I think that I won’t see them both play this format, I have to say I am getting emotional. I will miss them both in the dressing room,” Suryakumar told Revsportz.