Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma addressing the media after India's T20 World Cup 2024 victory, announcing his retirement from T20 internationals. © Twitter (@CricCrazyJohns)
Rohit Sharma: Ending on a High with a T20 World Cup Triumph!
Rohit Sharma, the Indian cricket captain, has announced his retirement from T20 internationals following India’s triumphant T20 World Cup 2024 win in Barbados. The victory over South Africa marked his final game in the format.
In his post-match press conference, Rohit expressed his satisfaction and gratitude, stating, “This was my last game as well. I’ve enjoyed it since I started playing this format. It’s a better time to say goodbye to this format. I’ve loved every moment of this. It is what I wanted – I wanted to win the cup.”
Rohit dedicated the T20 World Cup triumph to coach Rahul Dravid, acknowledging Dravid’s significant contributions to Indian cricket over the past 20-25 years. He expressed happiness on behalf of the entire team, saying, “What he has done for Indian cricket for the past 20, 25 years, this was the only thing left. I am very happy on behalf of the entire team that we could do this for him.”
He also praised his players, including the retiring Virat Kohli and bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah, highlighting his gratitude for having such talented individuals in his squad. “I am very lucky to have players like this in my squad, players who are playing for me and Team India – really, really grateful and thankful as well.”
When asked if this was the best moment of his career, Rohit agreed, stating that it was one of the highlights, emphasizing his desire to win trophies for India over personal statistics. “This has to be the greatest time. I can say that. It’s only because of how desperately I wanted to win this. All the runs that I’ve scored in all these years, it does matter, but I’m not big on stats and all of that. Winning games for India, winning trophies for India – that is what I look forward to all the time.”
As Rohit exits the T20I scene, he leaves behind an impressive legacy. He retired as the highest run-scorer in T20 internationals, with 4231 runs in 159 matches. He also holds the record for the most centuries (five) in the format. Rohit has been part of two T20 World Cup-winning teams, the first as a player in 2007 and now as captain in 2024. Despite not playing T20Is from the 2022 World Cup semi-final until early 2024, Rohit made a significant impact in the latest tournament, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer with 257 runs at a strike rate of 156.70.
Rohit Sharma’s departure from T20Is marks the end of an era, but he will continue to contribute to Indian cricket in ODIs and Tests. His leadership, batting prowess, and dedication have left a memorable mark on the sport, and his achievements will be remembered and celebrated by fans and cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
Also Read: Virat Kohli Retires from T20 Internationals After India Wins World Cup Title
