Rohit Sharma Announces Retirement from T20I Format After Leading India to World Cup Glory

Indian captain Rohit Sharma has officially announced that the T20 World Cup final victory against South Africa marks the end of his career in the shortest format of the game. He confirmed this decision during the post-match press conference, bringing an emotional close to a significant chapter in his cricketing journey.

“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 said, expressing his deep connection to T20 cricket and his ultimate goal of securing a World Cup for India.

Reflecting on India’s first ICC tournament win in 11 years, Rohit 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.” His words revealed the intense passion and determination he felt in leading India to this monumental victory.

At 37 years old, Rohit Sharma joins the elite list of Indian captains who have won a World Cup across different formats, following in the footsteps of Kapil Dev (1983) and MS Dhoni (2007 and 2011). This triumph further cements his legacy as one of India’s most successful cricket captains.

Rohit Sharma also set a unique record by becoming the first-ever captain to lead a team in 50 T20I matches, with the 50th being the victorious World Cup final against South Africa. This achievement highlights his leadership and consistency in the format over the years.

Rohit took over the captaincy of India’s T20I team after a disappointing campaign in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Under his leadership, the team quickly regained its form and confidence. In his first T20 World Cup as captain, he led India to the semifinal in Australia, although their journey ended with a heavy defeat to England.

The latest T20 World Cup victory is particularly notable as India became the first team to win the tournament without losing a single game, a testament to Rohit’s effective leadership and the team’s overall performance. This win also ended India’s long-standing drought of ICC trophies, which had persisted for over 11 years.

As Rohit Sharma bids farewell to T20I cricket, his contributions as a player and captain will be remembered for years to come. His journey from starting his international career in T20s to leading his team to World Cup glory encapsulates a remarkable and inspirational story for cricket fans worldwide.