After Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli replies to PM Narendra Modi's special post for him following India's T20 World Cup win

Virat Kohli has responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special message for him after the victory in the recently-concluded ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

India defeated South Africa by 7 runs to clinch the T20 World Cup for the second time and the first time since winning the inaugural edition in 2007. Virat Kohli, who had struggled with the bat until the semifinal, starred with the bat in the final and top-scored in the game.

India were reeling at 34 for 3 inside 5 overs before their former captain's 76-run knock helped them post a challenging total of 176/6 in 20 overs. In reply, South Africa finished their innings on 169/8. After the victory, PM Modi spoke to the Team India members on the phone and congratulated them on the monumental triumph.

Later, he took to X to post special messages for Virat Kohli as well as Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid. Both Kohli and Rohit announced their retirement from T20Is after the game while the tournament was Dravid's last assignment. The PM heaped praise on Kohli for his match-winning knock in the final and posted a special message on X.

Kohli replied to the message from PM Modi on Monday (July 1). Taking to X, the India batting superstar thanked the PM for encouraging him as he wrote:

"Dear @narendramodi sir, thank you so much for your very kind words and your support and encouragement always. It has been a privilege to be a part of this team which has brought the cup home. We are deeply touched & overwhelmed with the happiness it has bought the entire nation.

 

Dear @narendramodi sir, thank you so much for your very kind words and your support and encouragement always. It has been a privilege to be a part of this team which has brought the cup home. We are deeply touched & overwhelmed with the happiness it has bought the entire nation. https://t.co/dpKiJiMFih

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 1, 2024

Virat Kohli's glittering T20I career:

Virat Kohli has retired from T20Is as one of the most decorated batsmen in the format. The batting stalwart made his debut in the shortest format of the game in 2010 and played in the first T20 World Cup for the first time in 2012. 

It did not take him long to become an integral member of the T20I side before he became the mainstay of the batting unit. Virat Kohli represented India in a total of 125 T20Is and has finished his career as the second-highest run-scorer in the format. Only Rohit Sharma has scored more runs than him in T20Is.

In 125 games, Kohli scored 4188 at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04. He hit one century and 38 half-centuries in the T20Is. His record in the T20 World Cup is equally impressive. Kohli is currently the highest run-scorer in the tournament. In 35 games, he has scored 1292 runs with the help of a record 15 fifties.