Rohit Sharma, India’s captain in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa, has announced his retirement from T20 internationals. He had led India to victory in the tournament and expressed his love for the format and his desire to win the World Cup as the driving force behind his decision. Rohit leaves the format as its highest scorer, with 4231 runs in 159 matches, and holds the record for the most centuries in T20 internationals.
Both Rohit and Kohli had not played any T20Is since India’s semi-final defeat in the 2022 T20 World Cup. They returned to the format earlier this year with the goal of winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, which they successfully achieved. Rohit’s aggressive batting approach and ability to score quickly were crucial to India’s success in the tournament. He finished as the second-highest run-scorer, with 257 runs at a strike rate of 156.70, in challenging batting conditions in Barbados and other West Indies islands. His match-winning performances in several games will be remembered as highlights of his contribution to team India.
Despite retiring from T20 internationals, Rohit confirmed that he would continue to play ODIs and Tests, extending his career in longer formats of cricket. His legacy in T20 cricket will be remembered for leadership skills, batting prowess, and success on a global stage.
Rohit’s aggressive batting style made him one of India’s top players over time. He had scored more than 175 runs four times during international cricket matches before leading India into victory at Barbados.
The Indian team had won two world cups under Rohit’s leadership – firstly as a player back home soil on home turf when they defeated Pakistan in 2016 & then again as captain against arch rival Australia last year.
His retirement is not unexpected given that both he and Virat Kohli have retired from international cricket after winning two world titles together.
In conclusion, Rohit Sharma has left an indelible mark on Indian cricket history with his incredible achievements during his career spanning over a decade.
