After Virat Kohli, India captain Rohit Sharma has also announced his retirement from T20I cricket following his team's World Cup victory in Barbados.
Virat Kohli was the first to announce his retirement from the shortest format of the game, immediately after Team India won T20 World Cup 2024.
Rohit, who announced his retirement from T20I after Virat, played a pivotal role in India’s successful campaign, assured fans that he would continue to play in ODIs and Tests for India.
During the post-match press conference, Rohit said, “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. 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.”
His retirement comes in the wake of India's second T20 World Cup win, a triumph that brought immense pride to the nation.
Rohit leaves behind an incredible legacy as the format's highest scoring T20I batsman with 4,231 runs in 159 matches, holder of record for most centuries in T20 internationals – five to his name. His T20I journey began at the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, where he played a key role in India's first title win. Now, as captain, he led India to their second title, further cementing his legacy.
The last game against South Africa was truly a nail-biter, as India fought through a target of 176 runs. With the Proteas requiring 30 runs in the last 30 balls, somewhat the advantage seemed to be theirs. But the Indian bowlers, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh, never lost their nerve under pressure. Pandya was outstanding in that final over, defending 16 runs to seek a seven-run victory for India.
That win meant a lot to Rohit, who saw the crests and troughs of the game. Actually, this win indicated more than just a win; it showed his leadership abilities, fierce determination, and never-give-up attitude. When asked about how his journey began, Sharma replied, "I have loved every moment of this. Starting my India career in T20s, this is what I wanted—to win the cup.
Rohit's retirement comes just after the announcement of long-time teammate Virat Kohli's retirement from T20 internationals, which came immediately after the World Cup. Together, Sharma and Kohli have formed the backbone of Indian cricket; their contributions have been vital in a lot of the victories over the years.
