Indian captain Rohit Sharma awoke the morning after the T20 World Cup 2024 final with the trophy beside him, following a hard-fought victory over South Africa by 7 runs at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday, June 29.
In a post-match press conference, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the T20I format, joining his teammate Virat Kohli in bidding farewell to the shortest format of the game.
See Rohit's Instagram story here:
Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to play T20I cricket, Rohit Sharma stated that he cherished every moment but felt it was the right time to say goodbye.
“That was my last game as well. Honestly, I have enjoyed it since the time I started playing this format. There is no better time to say goodbye to this format. I have loved every moment of it. I started my India career playing this format. This is what I wanted to do. win the Cup and say goodbye” Rohit said in the post-match press conference.
Despite retiring from T20Is, Rohit Sharma confirmed his commitment to continue representing India in ODIs and Test cricket. Alongside Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma concluded his T20I career on a high note by securing India's second T20 World Cup title. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also announced his retirement from T20 cricket, adding to the emotional farewell.
After an 11-year drought, the Men in Blue lifted an ICC trophy by posting a total of 176 runs in their 20 overs, with Virat Kohli leading the charge with a brilliant knock of 76 runs off 59 balls. Axar Patel and Shivam Dube also made significant contributions with the bat.
In pursuit of the target, South Africa fought valiantly, with Quinton de Kock and David Miller forming crucial partnerships. However, India's bowlers, including Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh, turned the tide in their favor, securing a thrilling 7-run victory in the final moments of the match.
Also read| Shaheen Afridi pays tribute to Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli after legendary duo announce retirement from T20Is
