Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma announce retirement from T20 International Cricket

Rohit Sharma announces retirement from T20 format after leading India to victory in T20 World Cup, leaving as top scorer.

After a stunning victory at the Kensington Oval, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirement from T20 international cricket. While Kohli made the decision after being awarded the Player of the Match, Rohit confirmed his departure during a press conference following the win.

Expressing his emotions, Rohit stated, "That was my last game as well. Honestly, I have enjoyed it since the time I started playing this format. There is no better time to say goodbye to this format. I have loved every moment of it. I started my India career playing this format. This is what I wanted to do: win the Cup and say goodbye." Despite the urging of reporters in Barbados for him to continue, Rohit remained firm in his decision.

Rohit leaves the T20I format as its highest scorer with 4231 runs in 159 matches and holds the record for the most centuries (five) in T20 internationals. He has also led India to two T20 World Cup titles, the first as a player in 2007 and the most recent as captain in 2024.

The retirement of both Rohit and Kohli from T20I cricket did not come as a complete surprise. Following India's semi-final defeat in the 2022 T20 World Cup, both players had taken a break from T20Is and only returned to the format in January this year with their sights set on the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Throughout the tournament, Rohit showcased his skill as the second highest run-scorer with 257 runs at a strike rate of 156.70, despite challenging batting conditions in the USA and the West Indies. His aggressive approach at the top of the order provided India with quick starts, and his match-winning performances in the Super Eight game against Australia and the semi-final against England were crucial to India's success.