Team India outclassed South Africa in the grand finale of the T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados, to lift their second mega ICC title on Saturday, June 29. Notably, it took 11 years for the Men in Blue to end their title drought.
However, in a flurry of emotions, star batter Virat Kohli announced his retirement from the T20I format. Shortly after, the new reigning World champion Captain Rohit Sharma too joined the bandwagon to bid adieu to the format from which he started his journey. Interestingly, back then in 2007, Team India lifted the inaugural T20 World Cup when Sharma represented the nation as a player. It was during the post-match press conference, that Rohit Sharma announced that he was bidding adieu to the format but will continue to serve India in the ODI and Test formats.
“This was my last [T20I] game as well. No better time to say goodbye to this format. I’ve loved every moment of this. I started my India career playing this format. This is what I wanted, I wanted to win the cup,” said Rohit during the press conference after winning the World Cup.
“I wanted this badly. Very hard to put in words. It was a very emotional moment for me. I was very desperate for this title in my life. Happy that we eventually crossed the line,” the Hitman continued.
Earlier, during the presentation ceremony, the star India batter and the player of the match, Virat Kohli, announced his retirement from the T20I format. While doing so he said that there are many young stars in the making in the country and it will be the best time now to step away from the format to give them the chance to serve the nation ahead. Hence with both legends bowing away from the format, for the fans it was indeed an end of the era on a joyous yet slightly melancholic note.
Cricket’s Hitman holds elite records in T20Is
Speaking of Rohit Sharma‘s journey in the T20 Internationals, the legendary opener has accumulated the most runs by a batter to date. Notably, Sharma has 4’231 runs to his name and has featured in 159 games for Team India.
Furthermore, the destructive batter also holds the record for scoring most centuries (five tons) in T20Is. Interestingly, his last game was his 50th win as a Captain, thereby bowing away on a memorable note.
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