The Indian captain was overjoyed to present departing coach Rahul Dravid with a major trophy: “You saw how proud and excited he was.” It was both the best and most emotional time.
Desperation for a world title made this T20 World Cup win the pinnacle of Rohit Sharma’s career. “This has to be the greatest moment,” he said in the post-match press conference. “All the runs I’ve scored over the years matter, but I’m not big on stats. Winning games and trophies for India is what I strive for. Having this trophy now is definitely one of the greatest achievements.”
Reflecting on his emotions when he collapsed to the ground in celebration, Rohit said, “I wanted this so badly. It’s hard to describe what I was thinking. It was a very personal, emotional moment for me. You can’t capture that, but I’ll always remember it. I was desperate for this, and I’m so happy we finally crossed the line.”
Rohit, who brought the trophy to the press conference, has been close to a World Cup win several times since his first in 2007. He was dropped last minute in 2011 and played crucial roles in India’s five knockout appearances across six World Cups. After the heartbreak of losing the last tournament, Rohit and coach Rahul Dravid agreed to give it another try. Rohit expressed immense gratitude for Dravid’s contributions. “More than any of us, he deserved this trophy. What he has done for Indian cricket is unparalleled, and I’m thrilled we could do this for him. He worked hard with the team, prioritizing what the boys needed and providing role clarity.”
Hinting at some pre-final disagreements, Rohit stood firm on batting first. “I believe in putting runs on the board in big games. That’s my approach, and I made it clear. We have the talent in our bowling to defend any score. Even if we had lost, I would’ve backed the decision to bat first.”
Thank you for everything, Captain❤️pic.twitter.com/VahIZQmkYH
— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) June 29, 2024
He also praised Player of the Tournament, Jasprit Bumrah. “I don’t know what more I can say about Bumrah. He creates magic every time he has the ball. I’m very lucky to have such players in my squad. Truly grateful.”