Rohit Sharma Reflects on Unique Celebration After T20 World Cup Victory
Rohit Sharma's Memorable Celebration
In a recent interview, Rohit Sharma, the captain of India's T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy-winning team, shared insights about his celebration following the T20 World Cup triumph in 2024. He revealed that he was inspired by a celebration he had seen during a football match, which he decided to replicate, stating, "it came naturally to him."
Rohit played a pivotal role in ending India's 11-year wait for a major trophy. After a disappointing loss to Australia in the 2023 50-over World Cup final, where India had a remarkable 10-match winning streak, he led the team to victory in the T20 World Cup, defeating South Africa by seven runs. Key contributions came from players like Virat Kohli (76 runs), Hardik Pandya (3 wickets for 20 runs), Jasprit Bumrah (2 wickets for 18 runs), and Arshdeep Singh (2 wickets for 20 runs) during the thrilling match in Barbados.
As he received the trophy from ICC chairman Jay Shah, Rohit approached the podium with a unique, almost robotic demeanor before joyfully lifting the trophy high.
In his conversation with the ICC, Rohit mentioned that his teammates had suggested various celebration ideas, but he preferred to embrace the moment authentically. He expressed, "There were many discussions before the ceremony. The guys were advising me on how to walk and what to do. I told them to let me be; I wanted to celebrate in a way that felt right to me. It’s a beautiful moment, and I wanted to experience it fully. The celebration I chose was inspired by something I often see in football, and I really liked it."
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Rohit also mentioned that he had previously used this celebration during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup when he scored five centuries, although it went unnoticed by the cameras. He recalled, "I did it during the 2019 World Cup as well. Unfortunately, the cameras were focused elsewhere, but I celebrated after taking a catch in the slips. It was a beautiful moment that went unseen."
He added, "Just a few days before that match, I was watching a football game and was inspired by a celebration I found really cool. I thought to myself, maybe I will try it someday."
Looking ahead, Rohit is set to take the field in a three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting January 11.