New Delhi: Rohit Sharma is relieved to have finally won a World Cup and wants to celebrate hard and long.
Rohit led India to T20 World Cup title in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday as they beat South Africa in the final by seven runs.
It was India’s second T20 World Cup triumph after winning its inaugural edition in 2007. The win ended India’s 11-year wait for an ICC title and was their first World Cup title across formats since 2011.
Rohit played a leading role in the triumph, scoring three half centuries in the tournament. He also announced his retirement from T20Is after India’s victory, saying he was glad to sign off on a winning note.
Since winning he hasn’t let go of the World Cup trophy, holding it affectionately and positing photos on social media with it.
“It’s surreal. It feels like a dream. It feels like it hasn’t happened. Although it has happened but it feels like it hasn’t happened,” Rohit told BCCI.TV.
The Indian team is currently stuck in Bridgetown as a hurricane has lashed the coastal city.
“Last night we had a good time, we had a blast with the teammates till the early morning,” he couldn’t stop grinning before becoming a touch emotional. I would say I didn’t sleep properly but that’s absolutely fine by me. There is a lot of time for me to go back and sleep.
“I want to live this moment, each minute, each second that is passing by and will try to make the most of it,” he said describing how it felt to lead an Indian team to its first ICC title in 11 years,” the 37-year-old said.
“It’s been a great moment right from the time the game got over to till now. That’s the emotions and feelings you have,” said the skipper.
💬💬 𝙄𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙣𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙚𝙩
The celebrations, the winning gesture and what it all means 🏆
Captain Rohit Sharma takes us through the surreal emotions after #TeamIndia‘s T20 World Cup Triumph 👌👌 – By @Moulinparikh @ImRo45 | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/oQbyD8rvij
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 2, 2024
Rohit’s aggressive, selfless batting at the top of the order helped set the tempo of India’s innings throughout the tournament. He scored crucial half centuries against Australia and England that fetched him a spot in the team of the tournament.
But for Rohit, all this is secondary compared to the joy of becoming a world champion.
“We have dreamt about this for such a long period of time, we worked hard as a unit for such a long period of time and to see this (the trophy) with us, it feels quite relieved as well.
“When you have worked hard for something and eventually at the end you get it, feels really, really nice,” the skipper said.
After India’s win, Rohit ate a bit of soil of the Kensington Oval pitch in an act similar to what Novak Djokovic does after winning Wimbledon. The 37-year-old clarified said it was an impulsive behaviour, which wasn’t thought of earlier.
“Nothing was scripted. It was all coming instinctively. I was feeling the moment,” he said.
“When I went to the pitch, that pitch gave us this trophy. I will remember that ground forever in my life and that pitch as well. I wanted to have a piece of it with me.
“Those moments are very special, the place where all our dreams came true and I wanted something of it.”
Rohit Sharma led India to T20 World Cup title in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday as they beat South Africa in the final by seven runs. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
