During the felicitation ceremony at Wankhede, Virat Kohli shared a touching revelation about his long-standing partnership with Rohit Sharma, expressing how he had never witnessed such raw emotion from his teammate in their fifteen-year journey together until the emotional embrace following their T20 World Cup victory.
“This is the first time in 15 years that I have seen Rohit show so much emotion. When we were climbing those steps (at Kensington Oval) he was crying and I was crying,” Kohli disclosed amidst the jubilant atmosphere of the victory parade aboard an open bus.
Reflecting on the significance of Wankhede Stadium, where he had once suggested carrying Sachin Tendulkar on their shoulders for his years of service to Indian cricket, Kohli, now 35 and having retired from T20s, expressed hope that he and Rohit had borne the mantle well over their tenure, ultimately bringing the coveted trophy home.
“I hope we (Rohit and I) have carried the burden and no better to bring it (trophy) back here (Wankhede),” Kohli remarked, revealing that he had realized during the final match that it was time for the next generation to take the reins.
“Halfway through the game I knew it it was time and let the next generation take over,” Kohli added, echoing sentiments he had shared post-match.
Reflecting on his own growth from a junior member of the 2011 squad to now being one of the team's senior figures, Kohli admitted he now understands the depth of emotion shown by senior players like Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, and Yuvraj Singh after past victories, which he had struggled to connect with at the time.
“I couldn’t connect with the emotions of the senior players who cried that night but now I do,” Kohli confessed, acknowledging his evolved perspective.
Lightening the mood, when asked by emcee Gaurav Kapoor about declaring Jasprit Bumrah a national treasure, Kohli enthusiastically endorsed the idea, highlighting Bumrah's exceptional talent and unique contribution to the team.
“Bumrah is a once in a generation player and so glad he plays for us,” Kohli said.
For Jasprit Bumrah, experiencing the overwhelming fanfare at Wankhede was a cherished moment.
“This ground is really special. Came here as a kid and what I saw today I have never seen something like this.
“Seeing my son, I was emotional and I didn’t have words. Told my wife that I wanted to see my son (see me playing).” The sentiment was echoed by outgoing coach Rahul Dravid.
“I am going to miss this love. What I saw on streets tonight, I won’ forget it,” Dravid shared emotionally, his voice hoarse from shouting with joy during the celebrations.
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