BRIDGETOWN: India are no strangers to heartbreak in major global tournaments and captain Rohit Sharma said winning the T20 World Cup trophy on Saturday was something they badly wanted.

India became the first team to win the title going unbeaten throughout the 20-team tournament in the United States and West Indies.

Though they were pushed in the final but Virat Kohli’s stellar 76 and impeccable death-overs bowling sec­u­red their seven-run victory over a gallant South Africa playing their first-ever World Cup final in any format.

“It is very hard to sum up what we have been through for three or four years,” Rohit said after a victory that left most of his team-mates in tears.

“There has been a lot behind the scenes. So winning this game isn’t just about what we did today, it’s about those years, it’s all that hard work.”

India, the financial powerhouse of the sport, have been starved of global titles since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013.

They lost back-to-back World Test Championship finals in 2021 and 2023 and finished runners-up in their home 50-overs World Cup last year.

“We’ve played a lot of high-pressure games that we’ve been on the wrong side of,” Rohit said. “We now understand what needs to be done when the pressure is on. Today is the perfect example of what we can do with our backs against the wall. It was going South Africa’s way but we wanted it so badly.”

‘NONE OF US DOUBTED KOHLI’

Batting stalwart Kohli quit T20 Internationals after playing a masterpiece knock in the decider.

Rohit, who opened the innings alongside Kohli, had been the team’s form batsman leading into the all-important final with 248 runs, including three fifties, at an average of over 41. But it was a case of role reversal on Saturday, with Rohit out for nine as India slumped to 34-3 in the fifth over.

Kohli, however, rebuilt the innings during a stand of 72 with Axar Patel (47) that helped take India to 176-7, before a superb bowling and fielding display restricted South Africa to 169-8.

“None of us doubted him [Kohli], we know his quality,” said Rohit of Kohli, who bowed out of T20 Internationals with 4,188 runs in 117 innings, including one hundred and 38 fifties, at an impressive average of nearly 49.

“He has been at the top of his game for 15 years now. Big players will step up in big occasions and he played a crucial knock today.

“It was a team effort to get to that total but we knew we needed someone to bat time and he did that perfectly, using all his experience,” added Rohit.

Captain RETIRES

Addressing a press conference later, Rohit, who was part of India’s triumphant 2007 squad, also announced his retirement from T20 Internationals.

“This was my last [T20I] game as well,” the 37-year-old said. “No better time to say goodbye to this format. I’ve loved every moment of this.

“I started my India career playing this format. This is what I wanted, I wanted to win the cup. I was very desperate for this title in my life. Happy that we eventually crossed the line.”

The final was also a fitting farewell for India coach Rahul Dravid, whose spell in charge of the team ended with the match.

The usually stoic Dravid shook the trophy and screamed in joy in a rare outburst of emotion by the former Indian captain.

JADEJA FOLLOWS SUIT

On Sunday, Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja became the third Indian cricketer after Rohit and Kohli to announce his retirement from T20 Internationals after the national team’s memorable win in the T20 World Cup final at Bridgetown.

“With a heart full of gratitude, I bid farewell to T20 Internationals,” the left-handed Jadeja wrote in a social media post. “Like a steadfast horse galloping with pride, I’ve always given my best for my country and will continue to do so in other formats.”

He added, “Winning the T20 World Cup was a dream come true, a pinnacle of my T20 International career. Thank you for the memories, the cheers, and the unwavering support.”

In 74 T20 Internationals for India after making debut in 2009, the 35-year-old Jadeja took 54 wickets with his left-arm spin and scored 515 runs as a lower middle-order batsman. He featured in all the matches for unbeaten India in the just-ended ninth edition of the T20 World Cup.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2024