xtratime Logo

Xtra Time Web Desk: Minutes after Virat Kohli hung up his boots from T20I cricket, India captain Rohit Sharma announced his decision to retire from the shortest format of the game on Saturday, June 29. The two cricketers announced the end of their journey in T20Is after India won the T20 World Cup in Barbados, beating South Africa in a thrilling final. While Kohli called it quits after winning the Player of the Match award at the Kensington Oval, Rohit made it official while addressing the press after the victory.

"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. I started my India career playing this format. This is what I wanted to do. win the Cup and say goodbye," Rohit said even as the reporters in Barbados urged him to carry on playing the format.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma confirmed he will 'very much' continue to play ODIs and Tests, clarifying that he has only retired from the T20 internationals.

Read More: ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Final: Bumrah, Kohli inspire India to 2nd T20 World Cup

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have signed off on a high, winning a World Cup crown for India together for the first time. Kohli won the Player of the Match award for his match-winning 76 off 59 balls that helped India post 176 on the board after being sent into bat first.

Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, ended his long wait for a title as captain of the team. Rohit suffered multiple heartbreaks in the last two years. After losing the T20 World Cup semifinal in 2022, India lost the World Test Championship in 2023 and the ODI World Cup at home, losing to Australia on both occasions.

Rohit Sharma's emotions poured out as he slammed the ground in delight after the final delivery was bowled. Rohit danced his way to collect the T20 World Cup trophy during the presentation ceremony. He also posed with Virat Kohli when the two held an Indian flag together at the Kensington Oval.

It's your Captain Rohit Sharma signing off from T20Is after the #T20WorldCup triumph! ????

He retires from the T20I cricket on a very special note! ???? ????

Thank you, Captain! ????#TeamIndia | @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/NF0tJB6kO1

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 29, 2024

"I wanted this badly. Very hard to put it in words. At that moment, I didn't know how to express what was going in my mind. It was a very emotional moment. I wish I could capture that moment myself, but not really, you can't do that. But I will always remember that. Those are the moments you wait for. You don't plan these things. I was very desperate for this in my life. Happy that we eventually crossed the line this time," Rohit said, describing his emotions after the momentous T20 World Cup triumph.

Read More: ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Virat Kohli announces T20I retirement after victory

I WANTED TO WIN BADLY: ROHIT

Rohit Sharma's emotions poured out as he slammed the ground in delight after the final delivery was bowled. Rohit danced his way to collect the T20 World Cup trophy during the presentation ceremony. He also posed with Virat Kohli when the two held an Indian flag together at the Kensington Oval.

"I wanted this badly. Very hard to put it in words. At that moment, I didn't know how to express what was going in my mind. It was a very emotional moment. I wish I could capture that moment myself, but not really, you can't do that. But I will always remember that. Those are the moments you wait for. You don't plan these things. I was very desperate for this in my life. Happy that we eventually crossed the line this time," Rohit said, describing his emotions after the momentous T20 World Cup triumph.

Rohit Sharma finished his T20I career as the all-time leading run-getter with 4231 runs. The skipper finished with five hundreds, the most by a batter in T20I cricket. Rohit hit 32 fities at a strike rate of 140.

Rohit played an instrumental role in helping Team India shed the fear of failure in T20I cricket. Rohit led from the front in the T20 World Cup 2024, taking off in the powerplays and instilling fear in the minds of the opposition. Rohit scored 257 runs in 8 matches with a strike rate of 156.70.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli finished his career with 4188 runs in 125 matches.