Virat Kohli, the run machine and the player of the match of the T20 World Cup 2024 final, announced his retirement in the post-match match presentation yesterday. He said that the time has come for the new generation to take the cricket further. Following this, Rohit Sharma announced in the post-match media interaction that he is also retiring from T20Is. With this, the era of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ended in T20 internationals. However, they will still continue playing the ODIs and Tests.
Virat Kohli’s T20I Retirement Announcement
Virat Kohli announced his T20I retirement just after the T20 World Cup 2024 final. Here’s what he said:
“This is exactly what we wanted to achieve. One day you feel like you can’t get a run and this happens, God is great. Just the occasion, now or never kind of situation. This was my last T20 game playing for India. We wanted to lift that cup. [if he is confirming if this was his last T20I] Yes I have, this was an open secret. Wasn’t something that I was not going to announce even if we had lost. Time for the next generation to take the T20 game forward and do wonders as we have seen them do in the IPL. I have no doubts that they will keep the flag waving high and take this team further from here now.”
When asked about whether his teammates should lift him like he lifted Sachin Tendulkar on his shoulders after the 2011 ODI World Cup victory, Kohli said this:
“It’s been a long wait for us just waiting to win an ICC tournament. It’s not just me alone. You look at someone like Rohit, he’s played 9 T20 World Cups and this is my sixth. He deserves it as much as anyone else in the squad. Just happy we were able to get the job done and really it’s hard to explain the emotions I felt after the game. I knew what kind of mindset I was in. I wasn’t very confident in the last few games. I wasn’t feeling really good out there. But when God has to bless you with something he shows in ways that you can’t imagine and that’s why I said I’m grateful and humbled right now and I bow my head.”
Rohit Sharma’s T20I Retirement Announcement
Rohit Sharma confirmed his T20I retirement in the post match press conference. Here’s what he said:
“This is my last game as well, no better time to say goodbye to this format. I’ve loved every moment of this. I started my career for India playing this format and this is what I wanted, I wanted to win the World Cup.”
Rohit further added, “I am completely lost and can’t say what kind of emotions I am going through. Can’t explain it in words. Let this sink in. Last night, I couldn’t sleep as I was desperate and wanted it so badly. But I managed myself well inside the ground.”
Also Read: Rohit Sharma Bio: Age, Education, Career, Family and More
Virat Kohli Stats in T20Is
| Innings: | 117 |
| Not Outs: | 31 |
| Aggregate: | 4188 |
| Highest Score: | 122* |
| Average: | 48.70 |
| 30s: | 17 |
| 50s: | 38 |
| 100s: | 1 |
| Ducks: | 7 |
| 4s: | 369 |
| 6s: | 124 |
| Balls Faced: | 3056 |
| Scoring Rate | 137.04 |
| Opened Batting: | 17 |
| Top Scored in Innings: | 37 |
| % of Team Runs Scored: | 21.40 |
Rohit Sharma Stats in T20Is
| Innings: | 151 |
| Not Outs: | 19 |
| Aggregate: | 4231 |
| Highest Score: | 121* |
| Average: | 32.05 |
| 30s: | 16 |
| 50s: | 32 |
| 100s: | 5 |
| Ducks: | 12 |
| 4s: | 383 |
| 6s: | 204 |
| Balls Faced: | 3004 |
| Scoring Rate | 140.85 |
| Opened Batting: | 124 |
| Top Scored in Innings: | 38 |
| % of Team Runs Scored: | 16.78 |
