Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from T20Is after the T20 World Cup win.
India captain Rohit Sharma was over the moon after winning the T20 World Cup 2024. India defeated South Africa in the final of the tournament on Saturday in Barbados.
Indian cricket saw two absolute superstars cohabit and thrive, eventually leading them to success, as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli carried the weight of Indian cricket fans and supporters on their shoulders and won the T20 World Cup on Saturday, breaking an 11-year drought.
Both the superstar cricketers also announced their T20I retirement after the World Cup win. Virat Kohli was the Player of the Final for his 76-run knock and Rohit Sharma praised the batter, calling him a champion.
“Look, he’s been a champion player without a doubt. And we all know what he has done for us. At some point, everyone has to say goodbye to the game and Virat was very clear that this is what he wanted to do and he was very clear before the start of the tournament as well.
I am very happy for him that he batted like he did in the finals. I know the quality that he has, the big games and all of that. He is going to come good. When we wanted him the most, he came out and performed the way he did. So very happy looking at his career. It’s a nice way to sign off from this format,” Rohit said in the post-match presser.
Apart from Virat, Rohit Sharma was also all praises for Jasprit Bumrah, as the pacer won the Player of the Tournament award. He was giving Rohit wickets whenever the India captain wanted and for this, Rohit called him a class act.
"I can understand you guys trying to put it into words, but I've been someone who has seen him for so many years, even playing alongside him, but even I don't know what exactly is with him. I know exactly what he brings to the table, but how he does that is just a masterclass," Rohit said.
"He backs his skills, which is more than enough, and he is a very confident lad. Whatever he wants to do, he executes to perfection, which is a very rare sight. Jasprit Bumrah, to put it in one word, he's a class act," Rohit added.
When the game was in a delicate balance, Hardik Pandya bowled a crucial 16th over before Bumrah's game-changing over that secured a wicket and conceded just two runs, helping India gain the upper hand.
"Hardik was brilliant as well, bowling that last over, no matter how many runs are required, to bowl that last over, I am very proud of the boys," Rohit added.
(ANI inputs)