"That picture was a dedication to Indian cricket" - Virat Kohli on posing with Rohit Sharma and the T20 World Cup trophy
Team India batting star Virat Kohli has said that his picture with skipper Rohit Sharma and the T20 World Cup trophy taken after the Men in Blue's win in the final is a dedication to Indian cricket. Kohli went on to explain that the two have played together for so many years and he just felt that the occasion demanded a picture of them together with the World Cup trophy.
India beat South Africa by seven runs in the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday, June 29. Batting first after winning the toss, the Men in Blue put up 176-7 as Virat Kohli top-scored with 76 of 49. In the chase, the Proteas were held to 169-8 as Hardik Pandya (3-20), Jasprit Bumrah (2-18) and Arshdeep Singh (2-18) starred with the ball.
In a video shared on Star Sports' social media handles, Kohli opened up on his viral picture with Rohit, the T20 World Cup trophy and the tricolor, all in one frame. He said:
"It was a very special thing for him [Rohit] as well. His family is here, Samaira [Rohit's daughter] was on his shoulder. But I just felt like in the victory lap he was behind the whole time. I told him, you also hold the trophy for a while, for two minutes. We should take a picture together because this journey has been very long.
"Me and him playing together for so many years and just trying out level best to make sure that this happens for India. Captain leader, leader captain, we have just worked for only one thing - that's Indian cricket. That picture was a dedication to Indian cricket," the 35-year-old went on to add.
Kohli had struggled with the bat heading into the 2024 T20 World Cup final. However, both Rohit and head coach Rahul Dravid had backed him to come up with the goods in the final. And the former India captain didn't disappoint, hitting six fours and two sixes in a fine knock.
Kohli and Rohit announce T20I retirements after India's World Cup triumph
Following India's victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, both Rohit and Kohli confirmed that the match in Barbados against South Africa was their last T20I for Team India.
Rohit and Kohli are the top two run-getters in the T20I format. Rohit ends his career with 4231 runs in 151 innings at a strike rate of 140.89, with five hundreds and fifties. Kohli, meanwhile, amassed 4188 runs in 117 innings at a strike rate of 137.04, with one hundred and 38 half-centuries.