Rohit had been a member of India and won the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. As captain, he finished as runners-up in the 2023 ODI World Cup and World Test Championship. But Rohit finally got his date with destiny as India beat South Africa by seven runs to win the T20 World Cup at Kensington Oval last month.
Soon after announcing his retirement from T20Is, Rohit termed the victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which India won as an unbeaten team in the competition, as the biggest achievement of his playing career. "Rohit Sharma joins those other two giants of cricket, Kapil Dev and Dhoni, to captain India to a World Cup trophy. Like the duo, Rohit is also the people's captain.
"Dearly loved, not just by his team members but by the entire Indian cricket community. Cricket fans also love his laconic leadership style and tactically he is as good as the sharpest in the game. Some of his "Moves may surprise you. And make you scratch your head as to why, but the end result is usually exactly what the team needed at the time," Gavaskar wrote in his Sunday midday column.
In the tournament, Rohit amassed 257 runs at a strike rate of 156.70 and shouldered the responsibility of giving India a fast start with the bat, with his fifties against Australia and England being crucial.
"He led from the front, showing complete disregard for personal milestones and instead he sought to get the team off to a good start every time. India is fortunate to have him as their captain," Gavaskar added.
He also praised the captain-coach combination of Rohit and Rahul Dravid that led India to the elusive trophy glory. "While the players naturally took all the attention as they should, there was the support staff led by the one and only Rahul Dravid, who also had a huge role to play in the victory. What a fantastic combination the two R's made. Totally as a team. oriented, completely selfless and ready to do anything for team India.”
Soon after announcing his retirement from T20Is, Rohit termed the victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which India won as an unbeaten team in the competition, as the biggest achievement of his playing career. "Rohit Sharma joins those other two giants of cricket, Kapil Dev and Dhoni, to captain India to a World Cup trophy. Like the duo, Rohit is also the people's captain.
"Dearly loved, not just by his team members but by the entire Indian cricket community. Cricket fans also love his laconic leadership style and tactically he is as good as the sharpest in the game. Some of his "Moves may surprise you. And make you scratch your head as to why, but the end result is usually exactly what the team needed at the time," Gavaskar wrote in his Sunday midday column.
In the tournament, Rohit amassed 257 runs at a strike rate of 156.70 and shouldered the responsibility of giving India a fast start with the bat, with his fifties against Australia and England being crucial.
"He led from the front, showing complete disregard for personal milestones and instead he sought to get the team off to a good start every time. India is fortunate to have him as their captain," Gavaskar added.
He also praised the captain-coach combination of Rohit and Rahul Dravid that led India to the elusive trophy glory. "While the players naturally took all the attention as they should, there was the support staff led by the one and only Rahul Dravid, who also had a huge role to play in the victory. What a fantastic combination the two R's made. Totally as a team. oriented, completely selfless and ready to do anything for team India.”