Post By: Sakshi Srivastava

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja Announced Their Retirement From T20 Form Of Cricket:

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja; the legendary Indian cricketers, have announced their retirement from T20 International cricket after leading India to victory against South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024.

Virat Kohli's Impressive T20I Career:

Kohli finishes his T20I career as the second-highest run-scorer in the format, accumulating 4,188 runs at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04. He is the only player to have been the highest run-scorer in two different T20 World Cups (2014 and 2022), cementing his legacy as one of the greatest T20 batters of all time.

In the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa, Kohli played a pivotal role, scoring 76 off 59 deliveries to help India post a competitive total of 176/7. His match-winning performance earned him the Player of the Match award and was instrumental in India’s 7-run victory over South Africa, securing their second T20 World Cup title. In his retirement speech, Kohli stated that this was his last T20 World Cup and his final T20I game for India. He emphasized that it was an “open secret” and that he would have announced his retirement regardless of the result. Kohli expressed his belief that it was time for the next generation of Indian cricketers to take the T20 format forward.

Rohit Sharma's Retirement:

In the post-match press conference after India’s triumphant T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, Rohit Sharma confirmed that the final against South Africa was his last game in the format. He expressed his immense desire to win the trophy, stating, “This was my last game as well. No better time to say goodbye. I wanted this (trophy) badly. It’s very hard to put in words.”

Rohit finished his T20I career as the all-time leading run-scorer, amassing 4,231 runs. He scored 5 centuries and 32 fifties in the format, maintaining a remarkable strike rate of 140.89.

Jaddu's Shocking Revelation:

Following the lead of Kohli and Sharma, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also announced his retirement from T20 Internationals. Jadeja took to his social media platform to confirm his decision.

Jadeja played a crucial role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph, featuring in all of their matches. He finished the tournament with 10 wickets and 123 runs, showcasing his all-round abilities.

The retirements of these three stalwarts mark the end of an era for the Indian cricket team in the T20 format. Their experience, leadership, and on-field performances will be sorely missed as India transitions to a new generation of cricketers. The team management will now have the challenging task of identifying and nurturing the next set of stars to take the T20 team forward.

Rahul Dravid Announces Departure as Indian Cricket Team Head Coach:

In a press conference ahead of India’s opening match against Ireland, Dravid stated that he will not be reapplying for the coaching position due to scheduling conflicts and personal considerations. “It is going to be the last one that I am in charge of,” Dravid said. “Unfortunately, the kind of schedules and where I find myself at this stage in my life, I don’t think I’ll be able to re-apply.”

Dravid took over the coaching role in November 2021, and his tenure has been marked by India’s consistent performances in major ICC tournaments, despite the team’s inability to clinch the elusive world title. Under Dravid’s guidance, India reached the finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2023 World Test Championship, but fell short on both occasions. However, the team has maintained its dominance, being ranked No. 1 in all three formats. The T20 World Cup 2024 presents Dravid with one final opportunity to guide India to a world title, something he could not achieve as a player.

Dravid’s legacy as the Indian team’s head coach will be remembered for his unwavering commitment, tactical acumen, and the team’s consistent performances on the global stage. His departure marks the end of an era, and the Indian cricket team will now look to build on the foundations laid by the legendary cricketer.