"It is a very big decision" - Virat Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma on his T20I retirement

Veteran Indian batter Virat Kohli decided to retire from the T20I format after helping his team win the T20 World Cup final against South Africa. His childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma praised Kohli for his decision, especially after delivering a Player of the Match performance in the final.

Kohli scored 76 runs off 59 balls, helping the Men in Blue post a competitive total of 176/7, which eventually proved to be enough to end their ICC trophy drought. Rajkumar feels that winning the Player of the Match award in the final is the biggest high any player could ask for.

Speaking to Star Sports, Rajkumar Sharma also expressed his appreciation in Virat Kohli wanting to give the youngsters more opportunities in T20Is. He said:

"It is a very big decision that Virat has taken, that too at such a big moment where India has won the T20 World Cup. He also won the Player of the Match in the final which is the highest point for any player. I appreciate his decision as he wants the youngsters to get more chances and so it is a good decision."

Kohli had claimed while speaking to the host broadcaster that he would have retired from T20Is irrespective of the result of the T20 World Cup final. He retires with a staggering 4,188 runs to his name in 125 T20Is at an average of 48.69.

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Virat Kohli will be able to focus more on Test cricket: Rajkumar Sharma

Rajkumar Sharma believes now that Virat Kohli has bid adieu to the shortest format for India, he will be able to focus more on Test cricket.

He said, in the same conversation with Star Sports:

"The advantage of this decision is that he will now be able to focus more on his favorite format, that is Test cricket. He has done well in that format and I feel he will concentrate more there and bring more laurels to the country."

Captain Rohit Sharma also confirmed that he too had played his last T20I game for India, retiring with 4,231 runs to his name in the format.