BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (Reuters) – Indian captain Rohit Sharma withdrew from T20 Internationals along with his opening partner Virat Kohli on Saturday, shortly after his team’s victory in the World Cup final against South Africa in Bridgetown.

Kohli, 35, scored a match-winning knock of 76 in his last international match in the format to set up India’s seven-point victory in the clash at Kensington Oval.

“That was my last T20 game for India,” said an emotional 35-year-old Kohli after accepting the Man of the Match award.

“It’s time for the next generation to take the T20 game forward.”

Kohli retires from the format with 4,188 runs from 125 T20 internationals and a strike rate of 137.

His tally is only surpassed by Rohit’s 4,231 in 159 matches, including a record five hundreds.

Kohli is considered a modern batsman but was not at his best in the tournament, saving his best performance for the final.

“That’s exactly what we wanted to achieve,” said Kohli.

“I am so proud to have scored runs for the team on the day when it mattered most. The occasion triggered this change for me, I felt it was now or never.”

In a later press conference, Rohit, who was part of the victorious Indian team in 2007, also announced his retirement from T20 Internationals.

“That was also my last (T20I) game,” said the 37-year-old.

“There is no better time to say goodbye to this format. I enjoyed every moment of it.”

“I started my career in India with this format of the game. That’s what I wanted, I wanted to win the trophy.”

“I have wanted this title so much in my life. I am glad we finally achieved it.”

Both men will continue to play Test and 50-overs cricket for India.

(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by Ed Osmond and Toby Chopra)