By D. Maan, Jadetimes News
Indian Legends Retire from T20 Internationals
India's cricket legends Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja have announced their retirement from T20 internationals following their triumphant World Cup victory in Barbados. Kohli was named man of the match for his crucial 76 runs, and Rohit made history as the first India captain to lift a World Cup trophy since 2011. Rohit, 37, and Kohli, 35, are the top two run scorers in T20 international history.
Emotional Farewells from Kohli and Rohit
Rohit expressed his love for the format, stating, "I started my India career playing this format. This is what I wanted. I wanted to win the cup and say thank you." He praised Kohli, calling him a "champion player" and acknowledging his significant contributions to Indian cricket. Rohit added, "At some point everyone has to say goodbye to the game and Virat was very clear that this is what he wanted to do."
Jadeja's Tribute and Career Highlights
Jadeja shared an emotional farewell on Instagram, writing, "Winning the T20 World Cup was a dream come true, a pinnacle of my T20 international career. Thank you for the memories, the cheers, and the unwavering support." He affirmed his commitment to other formats of the game, promising to continue giving his best for his country. Jadeja's T20 international career includes 74 appearances, 54 wickets, and 515 runs.
Kohli's Final Match Heroics
Kohli, who had a challenging World Cup with only 75 runs in seven innings, delivered a crucial performance in the final, lifting India to a competitive total of 176 to 7. South Africa required 30 runs from the final five overs but faltered against India's death bowling and Suryakumar Yadav's spectacular catch to dismiss David Miller. An emotional Kohli said, "This is my last T20 game playing for India, my last World Cup I was going to play. I wanted to make the most of it."
Legacy and Future Prospects
Kohli concludes his T20 international career with 4,188 runs from 125 matches, just behind Rohit's 4,231 runs. Rohit holds the record for most T20 international caps (159) and shares the record for most centuries (five) with Glenn Maxwell. Jadeja's career includes significant contributions with both bat and ball. Despite their retirement from T20s, all three players will continue to be available for India in Tests and one day internationals. This World Cup win marks India's first major tournament victory since the 50 over World Cup in 2011, a fitting end to the T20 careers of these cricketing greats.