Indian captain Rohit Sharma has officially declared that the recent T20 World Cup final victory against South Africa will be his last in the format. He made this announcement during the post-match press conference, expressing his sentiments about leaving on a high note after achieving his ultimate goal of winning the World Cup. Rohit shared that T20 cricket was where he began his international career and concluded that now was the perfect time to bid farewell to this format.
Filled with emotions following India’s long-awaited ICC tournament triumph after 11 years, Rohit revealed that he was overwhelmed by the experience and couldn’t find the words to fully describe his feelings. He reflected on the sleepless night before the final, highlighting his intense desire to win the World Cup and how he managed to stay composed during the crucial game. As the third Indian captain to secure a World Cup victory across all formats, Rohit has solidified his legacy in Indian cricket history alongside luminaries like Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni.
Under Rohit’s leadership, India has achieved multiple milestones, such as becoming the first team to win the T20 World Cup without losing a single match. This historic win not only ended a long drought of ICC trophies but also marked Rohit’s record-breaking 50th T20I game as captain, a remarkable feat in itself. His tenure as captain began after India’s disappointing performance in the 2021 T20 World Cup, with Rohit successfully guiding the team to significant achievements, including reaching the tournament’s semifinals.
Rohit’s decision to retire from T20 cricket follows a similar announcement from former captain Virat Kohli, who declared that the recent World Cup was his final appearance in the format for India. Both players expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to achieve their ultimate goal of winning the World Cup and emphasized the significance of the occasion. With Rohit and Kohli leaving behind a legacy of success and sportsmanship, the future of Indian cricket will undoubtedly be influenced by their remarkable contributions.