The Kensington Oval in Barbados erupted in a cacophony of cheers on June 29th as India clinched the T20 World Cup title with a nail-biting last-ball victory against South Africa. Amidst the celebratory chaos, a heartwarming moment unfolded involving the Indian captain, Rohit Sharma. Walking towards the centre of the pitch, emotions etched on his face, Rohit knelt down, picked up a speck of soil, and placed it in his mouth.
This seemingly out-of-the-ordinary act instantly drew comparisons to tennis legend Novak Djokovic, known for mimicking a similar gesture after his Wimbledon victories. However, Rohit Sharma clarified that his action wasn’t a pre-meditated one, but rather a spontaneous expression of overwhelming emotions.ย In a video message recorded by the BCCI, Rohit Sharma shed light on the sentiments behind his unique celebration. “There was no script,” he confessed.
“Everything was purely instinctive. I was completely absorbed in the moment.” He elaborated, “That pitch was the stage where we achieved this victory (the T20 World Cup). We played on that very ground and clinched the trophy there. I will forever cherish the memory of that pitch, that ground. It was a way of keeping a piece of it with me. Those moments are incredibly special; the place where all our dreams came true, I wanted to take a part of it with me. That’s the emotion behind it.”
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India’s triumph was hard-fought. Chasing India’s total of 176 for 7, South Africa appeared to be in control, needing just 30 runs from the last 30 balls. But the tide turned dramatically thanks to crucial interventions by Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, along with a sensational catch by Suryakumar Yadav in the death overs. South Africa fell short by 7 runs, their innings ending at 169 for 8.
The victory, Rohit Sharma admitted, felt surreal. “The feeling hasn’t sunk in completely yet,” he shared. “It’s been a whirlwind of emotions, right from the moment the final whistle blew. It seems like a dream…even though it actually happened, it feels unreal. But that’s the nature of this feeling, these are the emotions that come after achieving something you’ve dreamt about and worked tirelessly for as a unit for such a long time. It’s a feeling of immense relief, because when your hard work culminates in success, it’s incredibly satisfying.”
๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐จ๐ฃ’๐ฉ ๐จ๐ช๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฎ๐๐ฉ
The celebrations, the winning gesture and what it all means ๐
Captain Rohit Sharma takes us through the surreal emotions after #TeamIndia‘s T20 World Cup Triumph ๐๐ – By @Moulinparikh @ImRo45 | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/oQbyD8rvij
โ BCCI (@BCCI) July 2, 2024
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The skipper elaborated on the post-match celebrations, which extended well into the night. “We had a blast with the team until the early hours of the morning,” he recounted with a smile. “Let’s just say I didn’t get much sleep, but that’s completely okay. Not sleeping after a night like that is a small price to pay. I have plenty of time to catch up on sleep once I’m back home.” Interestingly, the team’s departure has been delayed due to a hurricane in Barbados, with their return expected sometime on Tuesday or Wednesday.
During the post-match press conference, Rohit Sharma dropped another bombshell announcement – his retirement from T20I cricket, a decision echoing that of Virat Kohli.
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As Rohit Sharma concluded his message, the T20 World Cup trophy gleamed beside him. “This moment is incredibly special for all of us,” he said, “and I want to cherish every bit of it, every second that goes by. I want to make the most of this feeling.” The captain’s touch, both on the field and in his unique celebration, perfectly encapsulated the collective joy and accomplishment of the Indian team.
