Sharma captained the team in their second T20 World Cup, while Kohli was the Player of the Match in the victory against South Africa.
India captain Rohit Sharma has followed in the footsteps of Virat Kohli by announcing his retirement from T20 internationals shortly after the pair helped their team beat South Africa in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup final.
Kohli, 35, produced a match-winning knock of 76 in his final international game in this format to set up India's seven-run victory in the big match at the Kensington Oval on Saturday.
In the immediate aftermath of the victory, an emotional Kohli, 35, spoke after receiving the Man of the Match award: “This was my last T20 match playing for India. It’s time for the next generation to take the T20 game forward.”
Kohli retires from the format with 4,188 runs in 125 T20 Internationals at a strike rate of 137.
Just hours later, Sharma joined opening partner Kohli in leaving the T20 Internationals.
His tally is second only to Rohit's 4,231 from 159 matches, which includes a record five hundred.
Sharma follows Kohli's example
In a press conference long after the final, Rohit, who was part of India's triumphant team in 2007, also announced his retirement from international T20 tournaments.
“This was my last [T20I] “It's also a very good game,” said the 37-year-old.
“There is no better time to say goodbye to this format. I have loved every moment of this.
“I started my career in India playing this format. This is what I wanted, I wanted to win the cup.
“I was really desperate to get this title in my life. I was glad that we finally achieved it.”
Both men will continue to play Test and 50-over cricket for India.
Truly the greatest show in the world 🎪World Cup #T20 image.twitter.com/J0zoQnNUu1
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) June 29, 2024
Considered a great modern batsman, Kohli had not been in his best form in the tournament but saved his best for the final.
India were in deep trouble at 34-3 when he combined with Axar Patel to help his team reach 176-7, the highest total in a T20 World Cup final.
“This is exactly what we wanted to achieve,” Kohli said.
Kohli, who finally came to the party with the bat on the biggest stage, was awarded Man of the Match for his 76 off 59: “This is my last T20 World Cup and this is exactly what I wanted to achieve.
“I told Rohit, ‘One day you feel like you can’t make a run, but then you go out there and things happen for you. ’ I’m very grateful that I did the job for the team on the day that mattered the most.
“It was now or never. This is my last T20 game for India so I wanted to make the most of it. This was our aim – to win an ICC tournament.
“The occasion made me bow my head, respect the situation and play the innings that the team needed from me.”
Kohli said his retirement from the shortest format of the game was “an open secret”.
This was India's first world title since winning the 2013 Champions Trophy.
“It hasn't fully sunk in yet. It's an unbelievable day,” Kohli added.
