Virat Kohli continues to shatter records both on and off the pitch. Following India’s historic triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024, the former India captain caused a sensation on Saturday night with a poignant message celebrating his team’s victory in the final against South Africa.
India’s historic T20 World Cup 2024 win
India have secured a thrilling 7-run win over the Proteas, claiming their second T20 World Cup trophy and ending an 11-year drought of ICC titles. Emotions ran high as the Kohli shed tears of joy while celebrating his first T20 World Cup triumph alongside captain Rohit Sharma and their teammates on the field in Barbados.
Virat Kohli’s heartfelt message
Kohli took to social media to express his gratitude to both the divine and his loyal fans for their unwavering support. “Couldn’t have dreamt of a better day than this. God is great and I bow my head in gratitude. We finally did it. Jai Hind,” he wrote.
His post has received over 1.8 crore (18 million) likes and continues to gain traction, becoming the most liked post on Instagram in India, dethroning the previous both Indian and Asian record, record held by Bollywood couple Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani’s wedding post (over 1.6 million) of the year 2023.
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Kohli’s post, despite its massive popularity, still trails behind Football legend Lionel Messi‘s post about winning the FIFA World Cup 2022, which has over 75.3 million likes. However despite that, Kohli’s post received appreciation from legends in Indian cricket, Bollywood, and even former UFC champion Conor McGregor and soccer icon David Beckham.
On-field heroics for India
Kohli, who had been struggling with form prior to the final, emerged as the top scorer with an impressive 76 runs, propelling India towards victory. His exceptional batting performance against a formidable South African bowling attack earned him the prestigious Player of the Match award.
Retirement announcement
Following the victory, Kohli announced his retirement from the T20 format. “It’s time for the next generation to take over. It was an open secret, and I would have announced it even if we had lost,” he said at the post-match presentation. Kohli, who was part of India’s ODI World Cup 2011-winning team and Champions Trophy 2013 triumph, bows out on a high note, leaving a legacy for future cricketers to follow.
Also READ: From Irfan Pathan to Virat Kohli: Players who won Man of the Match award in the Men’s T20 World Cup final
