"No better time to say goodbye to this format" - Rohit Sharma retires from T20I cricket after T20 World Cup 2024 victory
Team India captain Rohit Sharma has joined his fellow countryman Virat Kohli in retiring from T20 internationals. This comes after the Men in Blue sneaked in a seven-run win over South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 final on June 29. The veteran feels it's no better time to bid goodbye to the format.
After a lean few T20 World Cup editions, the right-hander has had a fulfilling campaign. The Nagpur-born cricketer top-scored with 92 and 57 against Australia and England, respectively. He managed a single-figure score in the final, but still finished as the second highest run-getter of the tournament with 257 runs, averaging 36.71.
At a post-match presser, Rohit recalled that he started for India playing the T20I format and that the success is quite hard to put into words. As quoted by ESPN Cricinfo, he 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."
Kohli, who earned the Player of the Match award in the final, also announced his T20I retirement, claiming that it's time for the youngsters to take over.
"We have played a lot of high-pressure games in the past" - Rohit Sharma
Rohit, who signs off as the highest T20I run-getter with 4231 runs, heaped praise on his players for their stunning response under pressure. The 37-year-old hailed them at the post-match presentation for sticking together when the Proteas were ahead.
"We have played a lot of high-pressure games in the past as well and been on the wrong side of it as well, but guys do understand when the pressure is on, what needs to be done.
"Today was the perfect example of when the back is against the wall what is required. We stuck together as a team, all of us, even though at one point it was looking South Africa's way, but I thought overall as a group, on the field, we wanted this really bad."
Jasprit Bumrah earned the Player of the Tournament award.