Following India’s triumphant victory in the T20 World Cup 2024 under his leadership, Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement from T20 international cricket. India clinched the title by defeating South Africa in a thrilling final held in Barbados on Saturday.
During the post-match press conference, Sharma confirmed his retirement, echoing the decision of his predecessor Virat Kohli, who had earlier announced his departure from the format during the trophy presentation.
“I’ve played my last game in T20Is as well. There couldn’t have been a better moment to bid farewell to this format. I’ve cherished every moment of it. My journey with the Indian team began in this format, and winning this World Cup was a dream come true,” expressed Sharma.
Reflecting on the emotional significance of the victory, he added, “Words can’t fully describe how much this means to me. I’ve yearned for this title for a long time, and I’m elated that we finally crossed the finish line.”
Sharma leaves the T20I format as its highest run-scorer with 4231 runs in 159 matches, including a record five centuries. His captaincy stint spanned 62 matches, where he scored 1905 runs at a strike rate of 149.76 and an average of 34.01. Under his leadership, India emerged victorious in 49 matches.
His retirement, along with Kohli’s, was anticipated, as neither player had participated in T20Is since India’s semi-final exit in the 2022 T20 World Cup. They returned to the format earlier this year with their sights set on the 2024 edition, culminating in a memorable triumph for Sharma as captain.
