Quantcast

Sanga reveals Kohli chat details

Sri Lanka star sheds light on exchange at end of match

Sri Lanka star Kumar Sangakkara has revealed the details of his chat with India superstar Virat Kohli after the World T20 final.

Sri Lanka romped to a six-wicket win with Sangakkara's unbeaten 52 from 35 balls the catalyst, eclipsing Kohli's 77 from 58 balls as the Lankans claimed their first world title since 1996.

The pair were shown on camera embracing and having a lengthy conversation at the end of the match and, while such things are usually kept between players, Sangakkara has revealed all to a Sri Lanka radio station.

"It was very nice of him to have congratulated him on my fifty," Sangakkara said.

"All I told Virat was that it was an exceptional thing the way he batted, not just in the tournament but in the past two years. It's been a pleasure watching him bat.

"He's a really incredible player and really intense on the field. Which I think helps him play the way he did.

The Sri Lanka stalwart, who was playing in his final T20 international alongside Mahela Jayawardene, paid tribute to his team's death bowling from Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara. They kept Kohli off strike and tied down Yuvraj Singh, who suffered such backlash from dismayed Indian fans that his house was pelted with stones, prompting Sachin Tendular to speak out in his defence.

However, Sangakkara said there was nothing but respect between the teams after the final.

"There was a lot of mutual respect on either side at the end of that game and Kohli was the first one to show that," Sangakkara told Colombo's YES FM.

"I thought that was very graceful because he played the game hard. You could see his disappointment at the end of their batting innings when he couldn't get the strike and he knew that probably was the game.

"I thought it was very sporting of him to be the first one to say congratulations and be gracious at the end."