Rohit announced his retirement from T20 internationals after guiding the team to their second T20 World Cup victory, describing it as the ideal moment to bid farewell to the format. He joined his longtime teammate Virat Kohli, who also retired from T20Is shortly after India’s seven-run victory over South Africa in the final. Rohit concluded his T20I career with an impressive record of 4,231 runs from 159 matches, which included five centuries and 32 fifties.
Rohit announced his retirement from T20 internationals after leading the team to their second World Cup victory in the shortest format, describing it as the perfect time to bid adieu. Rohit joined his longtime teammate Virat Kohli, who also retired from T20Is minutes after India defeated South Africa by seven runs in the final. Rohit, who will continue to play in ODIs and Tests, concluded his T20I career with 4,231 runs from 159 matches, including five centuries and 32 fifties.
Team India face Zimbabwe in a T20I series without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Young players like Riyan Parag and Abhishek Sharma expected to make their debut. The series provides an opportunity for new talents to showcase their skills in international cricket.
Rohit Sharma, who led India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup with a thrilling win over South Africa in the final in Barbados, received special recognition alongside his teammates Suryalumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya. Nita Ambani and Akash Ambani celebrated the achievements of the Indian skipper, Pandya, and Suryakumar, acknowledging their outstanding contributions to the team’s success. World Cup-winning skipper Rohit described the victory as a “dream come true” for India, ending more than a decade of heartache since their previous World Cup win in the 50-over format in 2011.
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding sangeet ceremony was a glittering event, attended by numerous celebrities from the worlds of Bollywood and cricket. Among the notable attendees was Hardik Pandya, who made a stylish appearance fresh off his impressive performance in India’s victorious T20 World Cup campaign. MS Dhoni, the legendary former Indian captain, also graced the occasion with his presence, adding to the star power of the evening along with Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul.
India’s aspirations for medals at the upcoming event are pinned on several prominent athletes. Neeraj Chopra, the reigning men’s javelin throw champion, who made history by securing the gold at the Tokyo Olympics, is undoubtedly at the forefront of this list. The 21-member shooting team is also expected to deliver strong performances, while the men’s doubles badminton duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are anticipated to make their mark.
The scenes at the victory parade at Mumbai’s Marine Drive en route to the Wankhede Stadium left the players overwhelmed by the love showered on them by the fans, who did everything they could to get a glimpse of their favourite players, which included this fan who climbed up a tree to get as close as posisble to the team’s open-top bus that passed by.
Reflecting on his tenure, Rahul Dravid mentioned the T20 World Cup win, No.1 rankings in Tests/ODIs, and valued connections, professionalism, and coaching joy. Praising Rohit Sharma (T20I retirement) and Virat Kohli’s commitment, Dravid noted two and a half years of learning, his young boys’ involvement. Former India captain Dravid had left the international stage as a player without a World Cup win.
After clinching the T20 World Cup title, the team on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where he asked Kohli about his see-saw journey at the World Cup. Taking the PM through his title journey, Kohli admitted that he was not confident while batting throughout the World Cup but surrendered himself to the situation in the final.
Fielding coach TK Dilip from Hyderabad was pivotal in India’s T20 World Cup win, emphasizing clinical fielding and team belief. Yadav’s catch removed Miller off Pandya. Replacing Sridhar, Dilip introduced a fielding medal. Mumbai’s reception underlined cricket’s appeal. Key contributions were from Rahul Dravid, Axar Patel (Marsh’s catch), Wade, and intense effort.