Sign up to our free sports newsletter for the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing.
To receive the latest news, sign up to our free sports email
India captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from the T20 World Cup format shortly after beating South Africa in the final, bringing an end to the country’s decade-long trophy run.
The duo are the two leading run-scorers in the history of T20 internationals, both with over 4,000 runs each, and they walked out the stage moments after sharing the victory.
Kohli top-scored with 76 off 59 balls in a match against the Proteas in Barbados to win by seven runs, while Sharma finally lifted the trophy he first won as a young player in 2007.
Kohli, 35, and Sharma, 37, were in tears at the end of the match, overwhelmed by the emotion of the long-awaited victory and the reality that they would soon have to say goodbye.
Kohli, who remains the sport’s most bankable star, was the first to depart, announcing his departure during a post-match presentation.
“It was a now or never situation. This was my last time playing for India, my last World Cup so I wanted to make the most of it,” he said. “It was an open secret. It’s time for the next generation to take the T20 game forward.”
“I’ve waited a long time to win an ICC tournament. I wanted to win that cup. It was hard to hold on to but it will sink in afterwards. It was a great day. I’m grateful.”
Sharma kept his cards close to his heart, weathering the red tape, the initial dressing room celebrations and most of the press conference before finally unveiling the surprise.
“This was my last match as well,” he said. “There couldn’t be a better time to say goodbye to this format. I have loved every moment of it. I started my India career in T20 and this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to say goodbye by winning the cup.”
It was a cathartic moment for India, who have been runners-up in ICC finals five times across all three formats in the last decade.
“It’s difficult to summarise what we went through… there were a lot of high pressure matches where we were at a disadvantage,” Sharma said.
“The players know what to do when the pressure is on. Today was a perfect example. We came together with our backs against the wall. We really wanted this.”
Sharma failed to make a mark of his own in the final over, being dismissed for just nine runs, but he was grateful to Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah for turning the tide in the dying seconds as they batted for 18 to make it two.
“When the opportunity arises, the big players step up. Nobody ever doubted Virat. He has always been at the top of his game for the last 15 years. Jasprit? I don’t know how he does it. It’s a masterclass. A first-class performance.”
Proteas captain Aiden Markram’s team were chasing their first World Cup win but fell short despite needing just 30 runs off the final 30 balls.
“It’s heartbreaking… the way this game is playing out only adds to the emotions,” he said.
“I feel like I’m one step closer to my first win. It hurts a lot, but I’m very proud.”
“South Africans are competitive, they are respectful, they fight and they win. This remains a proud moment for us.”