Virat Kohli, the celebrated Indian batsman, arrived in Delhi on Thursday morning to a warm welcome from his family and fans after leading India to a thrilling victory in the T20 World Cup. India secured the title for the second time by defeating South Africa by seven runs in the final held in Barbados on Saturday.
Kohli, who announced his retirement from the shortest format of cricket after the tournament, played a crucial role in India's triumph. Despite a challenging start with only 75 runs across the first seven innings, he peaked in the crucial moments, scoring 76 runs off 59 deliveries in the final. His innings, which included six fours and two sixes, helped India post a competitive total of 169/8.
Throughout the tournament, Kohli accumulated 151 runs over eight innings, averaging 18.87 and maintaining a strike rate of 112.68. His half-century in the final was a testament to his resilience and determination.
Kohli's sister, Bhawna Kohli Dhingra, shared celebratory moments 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. 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.
Tags: #ViratKohli, #T20WorldCup, #India, #Cricket, #Champion
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