(AFP Photo)

Greatness cannot be denied, transcending all boundaries. Pakistan’s Ahmad Shahzad himself acknowledged the undeniable brilliance of Virat Kohli, India’s key batsman.

Kohli played a crucial role in India’s thrilling victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, anchoring the innings with a classic display of batting.

His outstanding performance with the bat once again amazed people worldwide, including Ahmad Shahzad, who praised Kohli’s genius and unmatched vigor.

“Virat Kohli is a legend of our generation. He’s that kind of player who whenever he plays cricket, he plays it with the same enthusiasm. You could see it even in the final, where he celebrated every single wicket India took with the same elation, from long on and long off itself,” stated Shahzad.

Under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, the Indian batting lineup achieved a landmark score of 176 runs in their appearance, marking the highest ever total set in an ICC T20 World Cup Final.

Despite earlier struggles in the tournament, Kohli showcased his prowess with a composed innings of 76 runs off 59 deliveries. His strategic approach not only averted potential setbacks but also played a pivotal role in steering the team towards an imposing total.

“You know, he was struggling with the bat in the T20 World Cup for the longest. But, when it mattered the most, in the final when nobody could score runs, he stepped up with the bat. India would have never won the T20 World Cup final without Virat Kohli’s innings,” added Shahzad.

Following the final match, Virat Kohli announced his retirement from international T20 cricket, having amassed 4188 runs in 125 matches at an impressive average of 48.69. Throughout his career, he achieved 38 half-centuries and a solitary century, notably against Afghanistan in September 2022.

Reflecting on Kohli’s departure, the Pakistani batsman emphasized the enduring impact of Kohli’s legacy. He asserted that no one, including Pakistan’s Babar Azam, can be compared to Kohli in terms of cricketing prowess.

“He is leaving behind a massive legacy for himself and the Indian cricket team, and to find a replacement to fill the shoes of a superstar like him, in any format of cricket, will be no easy task.”

“There is no one like Virat Kohli. Not me, not even Babar Azam. the statistics speak for themselves. No one stacks up to Virat in any sense, may it be the runs scored, or his strike rate. There is no comparison at all, he is the one and only Virat Kohli. To see him receive the sendoff he has, with the win, makes me happy as a cricket fan,” Shahzad stated.