(Getty Images)
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma bid farewell to T20I cricket after guiding the Indian team to a triumphant victory in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados on June 29. The final, where India defeated South Africa by seven runs, marked a fitting conclusion to the careers of two of the world’s most celebrated cricketers, as India secured their first ICC title in 11 years.
The cricket community and fans alike have been celebrating the outstanding contributions of Rohit and Kohli to Indian cricket, particularly in the shorter format. Despite their T20I retirements, both players will continue to represent India in ODI and Test cricket.
However, their return to the T20I squad post the T20 World Cup 2024 was unlikely, as the Indian selectors had already hinted at transitioning to newer talents, a sentiment echoed by the prospective head coach Gautam Gambhir, advocating for fresh faces in T20Is.
The legendary batsmen gracefully concluded their illustrious T20I careers following the T20 World Cup 2024, with the BCCI, selectors, and future head coach preparing to move forward without them.
Notably, Kohli had a challenging tournament with the bat but played a crucial role in India’s second T20 World Cup title win after 17 years, scoring 76 off 59 deliveries in the final and earning the Player of the Match award for his pivotal innings.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma disclosed surprising details about Kohli’s decision to retire from T20I cricket following the historic victory in Barbados. Rohit revealed that Kohli had informed the Indian team management about his retirement plan before the tournament began in the USA and West Indies. Rohit expressed his happiness for Kohli’s achievements in his T20I career and described him as a champion player.
Rohit Sharma said during the media interaction in Barbados: “Virat informed us before the start of the tournament that he will retire after this T20 World Cup. He is a champion player and I am very happy for him.”
Virat Kohli – It’s time for the next generation to take over
Earlier, Kohli said at the post-match presentation: “This is my last T20 game playing for India, my last World Cup I was going to play. I wanted to make the most of it. It’s time for the next generation to take over. There are some amazing players playing in India. I’ve no doubts they’ll keep the flag waving high, and really take this team further from here now.”
