Batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from T20Is after their dream of lifting the T20 World Cup 2024 trophy came true on Saturday (June 29).
India defeated South Africa by seven runs in a nail-biting final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados to clinch their second T20 World Cup title.
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 victory came as a big relief for the Men in Blue.
A day after the triumph, legendary opener Virender Sehwag paid a rich tribute to Kohli and Rohit for their immense contributions to Indian cricket in the shortest format of the game.
Taking to social media platform X, Sehwag hailed Kohli as the best T20 World Cup batter ever and backed him to reach new heights in the two other formats – Tests and ODIs.
“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,” Sehwag wrote.
In his special message for Rohit, Sehwag expressed his admiration for the selfless and attacking approach of the Indian captain.
“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,” he remarked.
