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Former Indian batting icon Virender Sehwag expressed heartfelt admiration for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, celebrating their retirement from T20I cricket following India’s triumphant ICC T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in Barbados. Sehwag took to social media to laud their remarkable contributions in T20I cricket.
On his microblogging platform, Sehwag praised Kohli as the pinnacle of batting excellence in T20 World Cups. He emphasized Kohli’s pivotal role in previous tournaments, highlighting his standout performances that were instrumental in India’s victories in the 2014 and 2016 editions of the tournament.
Virender Sehwag has showered praise on Virat Kohli for his remarkable legacy in T20 World Cups following his retirement from T20I cricket. Kohli concluded his T20I career with an impressive tally of 4188 runs from 125 matches, boasting an average of 48.69 and a striking strike rate of 137.04. Sehwag particularly highlighted Kohli’s memorable unbeaten innings of 85 runs off 52 balls against Pakistan at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground during the 2022 T20 World Cup.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup final, Kohli once again showcased his class by playing a crucial innings of 76 runs, pivotal in India’s triumph over South Africa by seven runs in Barbados on June 29. Sehwag not only acknowledged Kohli’s runs but also admired his approach and humility, attributing his success to qualities that transcend individual achievement.
Looking ahead, Sehwag expressed optimism for Kohli to maintain his high standards in ODI and Test cricket, extending heartfelt wishes for his future endeavors beyond T20Is.
Virender Sehwag wrote in his long post: “What to say about Virat the T20 World Cup batsman. By far the best T20 World Cup batsman ever, carried the team in 2014 and 2016 single-handedly winning games from difficult situations, in 2022 Melbourne will be in folklore of our T20 history and yesterday in the finals showing his class again.
More than the runs, what has been most impressive has been his approach which is reflected in what he says, attributing so much to something larger than himself, which I believe is the grace of a Guru. His T20 career comes to a stellar end and I pray that May the Grace be upon him and he continue to set high standards in the other two formats.”
Virender Sehwag has commended Rohit Sharma for his impressive development and leadership in T20 cricket. Sehwag highlighted Rohit’s consistency and leadership qualities throughout his participation in all nine editions of the T20 World Cup. The former Indian opener praised Rohit’s evolution into a more aggressive player over recent years, which Sehwag believes revitalized his game and fostered a cohesive team spirit crucial to India’s success.
Sehwag expressed admiration for Rohit’s exemplary conduct both on and off the field, emphasizing his significant role in shaping the team’s ethos. He also conveyed his best wishes to Rohit for his future endeavors. Notably, Rohit concluded his T20I career with 4,231 runs at an average of 32.05 and a strike rate exceeding 140 in 151 matches. His tally includes five centuries and 32 half-centuries, with a top score of 121*.
Sehwag posted on X: “Rohit, the only player who has played all 9 T20 World Cups, have been extremely impressed by the way he had transformed his game into a more attacking one in the last year or so and created a caring atmosphere within the team. It has been much needed and has also bought about results. Very proud of how you have held yourself and wish you the best in the times ahead.”
