Cricket

Rohit Sharma, the enigmatic Indian captain, bid farewell to the T20I format after India's triumphant 2024 T20 World Cup campaign. The historic victory marked the end of an era for the Indian cricket team, as three senior players, Virat Kohli, Rohit, and Ravindra Jadeja, retired from the shortest format.Rohit's decision to step down from T20Is signaled the beginning of a transition phase for Indian cricket. However, the veteran batsman remains a formidable force in Tests and ODIs, with his sights set on next year's ICC Champions Trophy and the World Test Championship final.Despite his absence from T20Is, Rohit continues to be missed by fans. A recent video went viral on social media, capturing a fan expressing their longing for Rohit's presence in the format. Rohit's response, "Bas ho gaya yaar," hinted at his contentment with his decision to retire from T20Is.Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh recently weighed in on the debate between MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma's captaincy styles. Harbhajan preferred Rohit's approach, citing his ability to connect with his teammates and empower them, particularly the bowlers."Rohit is people's captain. He goes up to the people and asks them what they want. His teammates connect with him very well," Harbhajan said.While Dhoni is widely regarded as one of the greatest leaders in cricket history, Rohit has earned a reputation as a players' captain, known for his freedom and support for his team."The better captain is the one who makes you fight for victory. For me, what Dhoni has done as captain, Rohit has also done it. He is no lesser than anyone," Harbhajan added.Rohit's T20I career culminated with India's World Cup triumph in 2024. Suryakumar Yadav was subsequently appointed as the captain of the T20I side, while Rohit continues to lead India in ODIs and Tests.Recently, Rohit-led India registered a 2-0 clean sweep over Bangladesh in a two-match ODI series. The victories extended India's dominance in the format and further cemented Rohit's status as a successful captain.

Rohit Sharma Explains Decision to Retire from T20Is: 'Time for Me to Move On'After leading India to victory in the T20 World Cup earlier this year, Rohit Sharma made the surprising decision to retire from the format in international cricket. While many believed he was still fit enough to play both white-ball formats and Test cricket, Sharma felt it was the right time to step aside.In a recent podcast, Sharma, who was also part of MS Dhoni's team that won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, shed light on his reasons for retiring from T20Is."The only reason I retired from T20Is is because I have had my time," Sharma said. "I enjoyed playing the format, I played for 17 years, I did well and all of that. Then, you won the (2024) World Cup. This was the best time for me to decide that 'okay, this is now time for me to move on and look after the other things'. There are a lot of good players who can do well for India."Sharma emphasized that his decision was not based on any physical limitations. "It (decision to quit T20Is) was not because I felt anything. I just felt this was the right time. I could still play all three formats easily. That's why I say fitness is in your mind, how you train your mind.""I believe everything is in the mind. I am a person who has got a lot of self-belief because I know that I can control my mind when I have to. Sometimes it's not easy. I know most of the time I can do that. If you tell your body that you are young, you can do this, you can do that, (then) of course you can," Sharma added.Sharma's retirement from T20Is has paved the way for Suryakumar Yadav to take over the role. Yadav has been in impressive form in recent months and is expected to play a key role in India's future T20I campaigns.

Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev has hailed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as "irreplaceable" in the Indian team across all formats, comparing them to legendary players Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni.Kohli and Sharma recently announced their retirements from T20I cricket, prompting Dev to express his admiration for their contributions to the game. "No one can take Virat and Rohit's place in the Indian team in any format," Dev said. "They have been a huge servant of Indian cricket and it was a happy farewell for them."Dev praised Kohli's stature in all formats, noting that his absence in T20Is will be felt. "The stature that Virat has made of himself in all formats, he will surely be missed in T20Is," he said.Dev also drew parallels between Kohli and Sharma with Tendulkar and Dhoni, two of India's most iconic cricketers. "Both are as same as Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni. They are irreplaceable," he said.Kohli's T20I career spanned over 14 years, during which he amassed 4188 runs in 125 matches. Sharma, on the other hand, became the format's highest scorer with 4231 runs in 159 matches. He also holds the record for the most centuries in T20 internationals, with five to his name.Dev's comments highlight the immense respect and admiration that Kohli and Sharma have earned within the Indian cricket fraternity. Their retirements from T20Is mark the end of an era for Indian cricket, but their legacy will continue to inspire future generations of players.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's Emotional Farewell from T20I CricketIndian cricket legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have bid farewell to the T20I format, leaving an indelible mark on the game. Their shock retirements came after India's triumphant victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados.During the post-match presentation, Kohli announced that the final against South Africa would be his last T20I for India. "It's time for the next generation to take over," he said. Hours later, Rohit Sharma followed suit, announcing his retirement from the format at a press conference.Both players will continue to represent India in Test and ODI cricket. However, their departure from T20Is has sparked a wave of emotions among fans and cricket enthusiasts.A poignant moment from the final has now gone viral, capturing the unspoken bond between Kohli and Sharma. As they walked out to bat, they shared a brief hug, a gesture that went unnoticed during the match. In retrospect, it seems like a subtle farewell between two icons of Indian cricket.Rohit Sharma hailed the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph as the greatest achievement of his career. He amassed 257 runs at a strike rate of 156.70, providing India with crucial starts. Kohli, on the other hand, scored 75 runs before the final but played a pivotal role in the summit clash with a match-winning 76.Kohli ended his T20I career as India's second-highest run-scorer in the format, with 4188 runs in 125 games. He also holds the record for most runs in Men's T20 World Cups (1,292 runs).The retirements of Kohli and Sharma mark the end of an era in Indian cricket. Their contributions to the game have been immense, and their legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's T20I Retirement Shocks Mohammed ShamiAfter India's triumphant victory in the T20 World Cup, the retirement announcements from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. Fast bowler Mohammed Shami expressed his surprise and acknowledged the immense challenge of replacing these legendary players.Kohli, who was named Player-of-the-Match for his match-winning 76 in the final, announced his retirement from T20Is after the game. He ended his T20I career as India's second-highest run-scorer with 4188 runs in 125 matches.Shortly after, Rohit, in the post-match press conference, revealed his decision to join Kohli in retiring from T20Is. He finished his T20I career as the highest scorer with 4231 runs in 159 matches, holding the record for the most centuries in men's T20Is.Shami expressed his shock at the retirements, saying, "It's a shock. They have been stalwarts for India, delivering outstanding performances for 15-16 years and earning their titles as kings of white-ball cricket. Both retiring simultaneously is shocking, but it's part of the natural cycle."He added, "Replacing such stars in the team will be a significant challenge. However, I would like to thank both Rohit and Virat for winning matches for the team, playing amazing innings for India, and breaking records along the way."Reflecting on India's title win, Shami congratulated the team and support staff for their hard work and dedication. He also thanked the fans for their unwavering support throughout the campaign."It's a huge achievement. Credit goes to the entire Indian team, the support staff, and the fans who boost our confidence. I would like to congratulate all the players who worked hard to remain unbeaten in the tournament," said Shami.He concluded by acknowledging the significance of being part of a World Cup-winning team, saying, "Players who become a part of the World Cup are fortunate to have that opportunity, as only around 10 percent of players get a chance in their lifetime to be part of a World Cup-winning team."Shami also expressed his appreciation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal congratulations to the team after their triumph. "I truly appreciate that our Prime Minister has a passion for the sport and personally congratulates our champions after their victories. It really boosts the team's confidence," he said.

Virat Kohli's decision to retire from Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) after India's triumph at the ICC T20 World Cup has been hailed as a wise move by his childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma.Sharma believes that Kohli's decision will allow him to focus more on Test cricket, a format he excels in. "He likes Test cricket and he desires to perform more in the Test format," Sharma said. "He has a very good mindset for Test cricket. I believe that he will be able to concentrate more on it and will do well for the country."Kohli's retirement from T20Is comes after a successful career in the shortest format. He has amassed 4,188 runs in 125 matches, including one century and 38 half-tons. In T20 World Cups, he has scored 1,292 runs at an average of 58.72 and a strike rate of 128.81, including 15 half-centuries.Sharma believes that Kohli's decision to retire from T20Is is a sign of his maturity and understanding of his own game. "The decision Virat Kohli has taken is a big decision, and he has taken it on a very big occasion when India won the World Cup, and Virat Kohli won the Man of the Match award in the final," Sharma said. "That is the highest point for any player when he says goodbye to a format from such a big stage. So it is a very big decision. I appreciate his decision as he said that he wants to give a chance to the youngsters."Kohli's retirement from T20Is will open up opportunities for younger players to break into the Indian team. It will also allow Kohli to focus on his other commitments, including his role as captain of the Indian Test team.