Rohit and Kohli called time on their T20I careers after the T20 World Cup 2024 triumph.
Gautam Gambhir, who is the leading contender to replace Rahul Dravid as India head coach, congratulated Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for retiring from T20Is with a World Cup win.
India defeated South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling final in Barbados on Saturday (June 29) to lift the T20 World Cup title for the second time.
“They have retired with the World Cup win, and probably better than any script that was written. Both players are great. They have done a lot for Indian cricket, and congratulate them and wish them all the best,” Gambhir told PTI.
However, he hoped that the two stalwarts would keep contributing to the team in Test cricket and ODIs.
“But they are going to play two more formats – Test cricket and ODI cricket. I am sure they are going to keep contributing to the country and the team,” said the former opener.
Over the last year 11 years, Kohli and Rohit had given their best in multiple ICC events but they were not being able to take the team beyond the finishing line.
In fact, India had lost as many as five ICC finals since the 2013 Champions Trophy win. Hence, this triumph came as a big relief for the Men in Blue.
Speaking to PTI, former India pacer Atul Wassan also praised the timing of Kohli and Rohit’s retirement from the shortest format of the game, saying that it would benefit the team in the long-run.
“It was bound to happen. The team needs to focus on preparing for the next World Cup. They may be great players, but if they linger, it won't benefit the team. We need to pave the way for youngsters and groom them for the upcoming World Cup,” Wassan stated.
“I knew he (Virat Kohli) was going to retire. Age is catching up. We'll see them playing Test cricket and ODIs. T20 requires specialists. I believe it's time for India to move forward from here. Once we've won the cup, it's best to progress further,” he added.
BCCI joint secretary Devajit Saikia believes that this triumph will take Indian cricket to greater heights despite the two legends moving away from T20Is.
"Fantastic win. I am sure this win will not only give a big boost to the development of cricket in India but in the other parts of the world too,” Saikia told PTI.
“Retirement is part and parcel of the game but this win has taken Indian cricket to a different level from today onwards,” he further said.
(With PTI Inputs)