This Saturday afternoon, as the sun sets in Barbados, Indian fans await the final T20I performance from India’s Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The country anticipates a dance of victory by these two cricketing greats that will erase bitter memories of ODI World Cup loss last year.
The BCCI and national selectors accept that a new era is imminent for Indian cricket with an eye on 2026 T20 World Cup. It is probable that this will be inaugurate in Zimbabwe series next month to concretize the core team for the forthcoming global event like two years before. Moreover, their age perhaps suggests that Rohit, Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja may not feature in long-term plans despite their huge contributions. However, while delicate matter such as retirement looms large, it all points to the finals. A win over South Africa would be highly desirable as it would be a fitting end to Rohit’s and Kohli’s illustrious careers in this particular format of the game. They will still continue playing IPL where they are legends like Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
For Kohli, winning T20 World Cup would complete a remarkable circle having already won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and Champions Trophy 2013. But just like what happened to Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara after their triumph during T20 World Cup against India back then in 2014, this could mean good bye.
Kohli along with Rohit has scored 8334 runs in T20 Internationals including six centuries, sixty nine half centuries and one hundred nineteen catches between them; these statistics make them links between old and new generations of Indian cricket. Winning this trophy would be an appropriate tribute to their legacy because it is theirs by right since they stand among those who preceded them.
The sorrow in his eyes was clear when he lost out at England to anyone who dare to exclude the “King” from the final.
Rohit on his part yearns for closure despite all his talk of moving on and healed wounds.
Rohit’s desperation to participate in this T20 World Cup edition would have been considerably less if India had triumphed in 2023 ODI World Cup.
He wants no more white-ball global success than winning a T20 World Cup will give him.
The fan following that Rohit has is pure. While Dhoni was called ‘Mahi bhai’ by his juniors and Kohli earned it with his achievements as a player, Rohit is admired without any strings attached by both colleagues and subordinates as well.
It’s been over a decade that Rohit and Virat have seen Indian cricket at its highest and lowest points. Fortunately, there are no more points to score for both Rohit and Kohli.
Their retirement after Saturday could leave a huge void not just in terms of quality, but also an emotional one if this truly marks their last appearance in a T20 international.
