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Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar extended his congratulations to India captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for their illustrious careers in T20Is for Team India. He praised both stalwarts of Indian cricket for their exceptional contributions to the team, noting that they bowed out on a high note after serving as invaluable assets.
India’s long-awaited triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024 marked a significant milestone, ending their drought of ICC titles since the Champions Trophy in 2013. The victory brought immense joy to the team after enduring numerous heartbreaks in previous tournaments, coming agonizingly close to clinching the title.
The crowning achievement also signaled the end of an era with the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from T20Is. Kohli, named Player of the Match in the final, first indicated that it was time for the next generation to step up. Later, during a press conference, captain Rohit Sharma announced his decision to bid farewell to the format, fulfilling his dream of winning the T20 World Cup and concluding his enjoyable stint in the shortest format of the game.
Both Kohli and Rohit showcased their best performances in their final matches, ensuring their departure with the prestigious title. Rohit emerged as the leading run-scorer in the tournament, amassing over 250 runs, while Kohli’s crucial 76-run knock in the final solidified their legacy.
Reflecting on the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Akhtar addressed speculations surrounding their futures, dismissing premature suggestions about their potential replacements, particularly in light of Gautam Gambhir’s arrival. He elaborated on these points in a video shared on his Twitter account.
“Two big names in India, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have retired and finished on a high note. Speculation was that some senior players would be fired after Gautam Gambhir’s arrival. I thought it was a premature statement from them.”
Both have made a lot of contributions in cricket – Shoaib Akhtar on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
Shoaib Akhtar continued to praise Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as the top batsmen in cricket, emphasizing their significant impact on the sport. He elaborated:
“Virat Kohli is the number one batsman in the world. Rohit Sharma is also the number one batsman and the captain. Both have made a lot of contributions to cricket. They have finished on a high note. Man of the Match, Virat Kohli.”
Virat Kohli represented India in 125 T20I matches, where he established himself as the second-highest run-scorer for the country in this format. Throughout his career, he accumulated 4188 runs at an impressive average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma concluded his T20I tenure as the highest run-scorer of all time, amassing 4231 runs. As captain, he registered the most centuries (5) by any batsman in T20I history, along with 32 half-centuries, showcasing a career strike rate of 140.
