WC T20 winner Gautam Gambhir himself has urged Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to continue playing for India in the longer formats of the game.
Gautam Gambhir’s comments came in the wake of Rohit Sharma (4231) and Virat Kohli (4188) announcing their retirement from the shortest format of the game. They ended their illustrious careers as the highest and second-highest scorers in international T20 cricket respectively.
Of course, the individual milestone was not the only achievement of the day at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. While Virat Kohli became a T20 world champion for the first time, Rohit Sharma enjoyed the sensation of 2007 in Johannesburg as a teenager.
It was a moment that every Indian fan will remember and 2024 will be the third golden year of Indian cricket. The Asian Giants are now the most decorated cricket team in the world with 4 trophies and are tied with the West Indies. At the top is obviously Australia with 6 ODI World Cups with 1 Test World Championship and T20 World Cup each.
To help India achieve this, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli played a pivotal role and are truly leaving the game as legends of the format. Not only are they making room for the younger generation to take over and flourish, but they also showed the next team in the 2026 World T20 how a modern tournament is won in difficult conditions and amidst unexpected situations.
His main focus will now be on the longer formats of the game. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been brutal forces in one-day cricket, but the former is yet to win that format’s biggest prize. He nearly did so in his first attempt as captain last year, but was denied by the mighty Australians on home soil, months after the WTC final loss to the same opponents.
It is often said that injured Lions are more dangerous and Virat Kohli proved it with his knock yesterday. Similarly, Rohit Sharma can try to fulfill the two dreams that were lost with his injury in the 2023 final, which will make him wiser and sharper.
Gautam Gambhir urges Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to continue playing ODI and Test cricket
Of course, it will depend on their fitness. Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir, who is likely to be India’s next coach, had words of praise for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and also urged them to continue playing in longer formats.
Gautam Gambhir thanked and congratulated Kohli and Rohit for their contribution to Indian cricket and for winning the World Cup. Gambhir then stated that he believes that if they continue to play ODI and red-ball cricket, India will come closer to more titles.
“Both of them are great players and have done a lot for Indian cricket. I really want to congratulate them and wish them all the best. They are still playing One Day and Test cricket. I am sure they will continue to contribute to the success of the country and team,” Gautam Gambhir told PTI.
VIDEO | Here’s what former cricketer Gautam Gambhir had to say about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirement from the T20 format.
“They are both great players and have done a lot for Indian cricket. I really want to congratulate them and wish them all the best. They are still playing One Day… pic.twitter.com/0lQAd9J3gd
– Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 30, 2024