Rohit Sharma Opens Up About Emotional T20 World Cup Victory with Virat Kohli

Rohit Sharma Shares Insights on Iconic Moment

Rohit Sharma, the former captain of Team India, has shed light on the heartfelt moment he shared with teammate Virat Kohli after their T20 World Cup victory in Barbados in 2024.

India triumphed over South Africa in the final, marking the end of a 17-year wait for the prestigious trophy. The team's first T20 World Cup win came in 2007 under MS Dhoni's captaincy, where they defeated Pakistan.

As the senior-most players in the squad, Rohit and Virat embraced emotionally on the staircase leading to the dressing room after their historic win.

Reflecting on a Long Journey

Despite the passage of two years since their T20 World Cup victory, the memories of that campaign remain fresh. On his show, Family Full House With Rohit Sharma, he reminisced about the long wait for an ICC World Cup trophy following their defeat in the 2023 final and the journey he shared with Kohli.

"From 2015 to 2024, we chased that World Cup. We were close several times but fell short. The 2015 and 2019 tournaments were particularly painful," Rohit expressed.

"I prefer not to dwell on the events of November 19, 2023. However, I realized that the 2024 T20 World Cup would be my last," he added.

A Mutual Decision

Rohit discussed the emotional embrace with Kohli after the final, revealing that they had a silent agreement about their futures in T20 cricket. They decided that the tournament would mark their final appearance in the format.

"Virat and I had agreed not to continue playing T20 after this. That’s why our emotions ran high; we had worked so hard for this World Cup," Rohit stated.

"When we finally achieved it, we were overwhelmed and didn’t know how to react to the moment," he added.

Retirement and Future Goals

After concluding his T20I career, Rohit announced his retirement from the format while still participating in the IPL. He and Kohli also stepped back from Test cricket in 2025, leaving ODIs as their only international format.

Both players are now focused on extending their careers to compete in the 2027 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Rohit and Kohli are set to return to the field for the first ODI of a three-match series against the West Indies at Greenfields International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, September 27.