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Two of India’s greatest cricketers of all time – Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – announced their retirement on Saturday after the team won its second T20 World Cup. Kohli announced his retirement minutes after the historic win, while Indian captain Rohit Sharma made the announcement at the official post-match press conference. Rohit, who played a key role in India’s triumph, confirmed that he will continue to represent India in ODIs and Test matches.
Rohit, whose 92 runs off 41 balls against Australia in the Super 8s will be remembered for years to come, said he was “hungry” to win the title.
“This is my last match as well. There is no better time than now to say goodbye. I wanted this trophy so badly. It is difficult to put it into words,” Rohit said in the post-match press conference after ending India’s title drought of more than a decade. “This is what I wanted and it came true. I have wanted it so badly in my life. I am glad that we crossed the line this time,” he added.
He made the announcement after India won its second T20 World Cup title, a victory that brought immense joy and pride to the country.
His retirement marks the end of his illustrious T20I career. In 159 matches, he became the highest scorer in the format with 4231 runs. He also holds the record for most hundreds in T20 Internationals with five. His T20I journey began with the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, where he was a key player in India’s maiden title triumph. Now, as captain, he has led India to their second title, further cementing his legendary status.
The final match against South Africa was a tight affair, with India defending a target of 176. Needing 30 runs from the final 30 overs, South Africa seemed to have the upper hand. However, the Indian bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh, kept their composure at crucial moments. Pandya, in particular, performed brilliantly in the final over, managing to defend 16 runs, sealing a dramatic 7-run win for India.
The win was special for Rohit as his cricket career had its highs and lows. The win was a testament to his leadership, resilience and sheer determination. Reflecting on his journey, Sharma said, “I have loved every moment of this experience. This is how my India career started. This is what I wanted, I wanted to win trophies.”
His retirement follows in the footsteps of his long-time teammate Virat Kohli, who also announced his retirement from T20 internationals after the World Cup. Sharma and Kohli have been the pillars of Indian cricket and their contributions have played a major role in the numerous victories Indian cricket has achieved over the years.
Use IANS and PTI inputs
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