Twenty20 World Cup winning skipper Rohit Sharma has called it a day from T20 Internationals following Virat Kohli’s retirement after India won Saturday’s final against South Africa by seven runs at Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Captain Rohit has played 159 T20Is and scored 4,231 runs from 151 innings with five hundreds and 32 half-centuries in his illustrious career.
Captain Rohit praised his fellow teammate Kohli on his retirement and termed him a champion player.
And when asked about his plans with regards to how long he wants to continue his T20I career, he took a break for a few seconds before giving the answer.
He looked a bit emotional and informed that it was his last T20I as well in Indian jersey.
“This was my last game as well. I've enjoyed it since the time I started playing this format (T20Is). And nothing better timing than this to say goodbye to this format. I've loved every moment of this. I started my India career playing this format. And this is what I wanted. I wanted to win the World Cup and say thank you,” said Rohit during the post-match press conference at Kensington Oval in Barbados Saturday.
“He (Kohli) has been a champion player without a doubt. And we all know what he has done for us. At some point everyone has to say goodbye to the game and Virat was very clear that this is what he wanted to do and he was very clear before the start of the tournament as well.
“I am very happy for him that he batted like he did in the finals. I know the quality that he has, the big games and all of that. He is going to come good. When we wanted him the most, he came out and performed the way he did. So very happy looking at his career. Obviously, he's been a champion player. We know, we can see the stats and everything there. But, yeah, nice way to sign off from this format.”
Rohit said emotions were running high for himself, the players and coaching staff members when the last ball was bowled and India sealed victory.
“Oh yeah, it was very emotional. I wanted this badly. So, it’s very hard to put it in words because that moment (after the last ball being bowled), I don't want to say what I was thinking and what was going in my mind, but it was a very emotional moment personally for me,” said the stylish right-handed batter.
“And I wish I could capture that moment myself but, you can't do that but I will always remember those moments. Yeah, those are the moments you wait for and then you don't plan these things, it just happens because you're so desperate for certain things in life and I was very desperate for this in my life so happy that we eventually crossed the line this time."
Rohit had earlier dedicated the T20 World Cup triumph to coach Rahul Dravid - with gratitude for his contribution to the sport.
Dravid is stepping down from the position of India’s head coach after this edition of the tournament.
“I think he (Dravid) deserved that trophy. What he has done for Indian cricket for the past 20-25 years, I think this was the only thing that was left in his cabinet. I am very happy from all of us on behalf of the entire team that we could actually do this for him. You saw how proud he was and how excited he was. Really grateful to the occasion for this to happen as well,” said Rohit.
