India’s cricket captain Rohit Sharma woke up in Barbados with the T20 World Cup 2024 trophy beside him after leading India to a historic victory in the final against South Africa. Sharma announced his retirement from T20 international cricket in a press conference following India’s triumph, stating that winning the World Cup was the perfect farewell for him in the format where he started his international career.
Sharma, who began his career by winning the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, expressed gratitude for ending his T20I journey with another ICC trophy. He shared a photo on Instagram showing him waking up with the trophy beside him in his hotel room.
“That was my last game as well. Honestly, I have enjoyed it since the time I started playing this format. There is no better time to say goodbye to this format. I have loved every moment of it,” Rohit said, despite calls from reporters urging him to continue playing.
While confirming his retirement from T20 internationals, Sharma reassured fans that he plans to continue playing ODIs and Tests. He emphasized his joy in leading India to victory alongside Virat Kohli, who was named Player of the Match for his crucial innings of 76 runs in the final.
Rohit Sharma also achieved the milestone of becoming the leading run-scorer in T20I history, accumulating 4231 runs with five centuries and 32 fifties at a strike rate of 140. His leadership in the T20 World Cup 2024 was instrumental in India’s success, where he scored 257 runs in 8 matches at a strike rate of 156.70, instilling confidence and fearlessness in the team.
The victory in the T20 World Cup marked a redemption for Sharma, who had faced disappointments in recent ICC tournaments. He led India to overcome past setbacks, culminating in a memorable triumph that sealed his legacy as a formidable captain and batsman in T20 cricket.