India pacer Mohammad Shami said that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring from T20Is at the same time was a big shock for him. India captain Rohit Sharma and ace batter Virat Kohli announced after India won the T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados on June 29.
Virat Kohli announced after he won the Player of the Final for his 76-run knock, while Rohit Sharma followed suit and announced his retirement in the press conference after the match. In addition to them, Ravindra Jadeja has also quit the format a day after Rohit and Kohli’s announcement.
Kohli ended his T20I career as India's second-highest run-scorer in the format, through 4188 runs in 125 games at an average of 48.69 and strike rate of 137.04. Rohit, on the other hand, finished as the leading run-getter in T20Is with 4231 runs and 5 centuries in 159 matches.
"The retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from T20Is was a shock. They have been stalwarts for India, delivering outstanding performances for the country for 15-16 years and earning their titles as kings of white-ball cricket. Both retiring simultaneously is shocking, but it's part of the natural cycle—when one player leaves, another steps in. However, replacing such stars in the team will be a significant challenge," said Shami.
"Bidding goodbye to a journey after achieving your goal is a truly emotional moment. I would like to thank both Rohit and Virat for winning matches for the team, playing amazing innings for India, and breaking records along the way," he added.
Reflecting on India's title win, Shami congratulated Team India and support staff for the victory and thanked fans for boosting the team's morale throughout the campaign.
"It's a huge achievement. Credit goes to the entire Indian team, the support staff, and the fans who boost our confidence. I would like to congratulate all the players who worked hard to remain unbeaten in the tournament. I would also like to acknowledge and congratulate those players who have contributed to the team's success in any capacity, as every little step and every prayer counts.
Players who become a part of the World Cup are fortunate to have that opportunity, as only around 10 percent of players get a chance in their lifetime to be part of a World Cup-winning team," Shami concluded.
(NDTV inputs)
