India’s talisman Virat Kohli has said that the picture with Rohit Sharma and the T20 World Cup trophy, which was taken after team’s seven-run win against South Africa in the final at Barbados, sums up their dedication to Indian cricket.

This was Rohit Sharma’s ninth T20 World Cup whereas Kohli was playing in his sixth T20I showpiece. As India won their second T20 World Cup title, both Rohit and Virat decided to hang their boots from T20Is, while finishing as the leading run-getters in the format, respectively.

While Rohit Sharma scored 257 runs in eight matches of the T20 World Cup 2024 at an average of 36.71 and a strike rate of 156.71, Kohli scored a vital knock of 76 runs off 59 balls in the all-important final against the Proteas after a disappointing run throughout the tournament. Thus, the duo once again played an instrumental role in taking India to glory.

Virat Kohli said on Star Sports, “It was a very special thing for him [Rohit] as well. His family is here, Samaira [Rohit’s daughter] was on his shoulder. But I just felt like in the victory lap he was behind the whole time. I told him, you also hold the trophy for a while, for two minutes. We should take a picture together because this journey has been very long.

“Me and him playing together for so many years and just trying out level best to make sure that this happens for India. Captain leader, leader captain, we have just worked for only one thing – that’s Indian cricket. That picture was a dedication to Indian cricket,” the 35-year-old went on to add.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma finished his T20I career as the leading run-getter in the format, with 4231 runs in 159 matches. Virat Kohli scored 4188 runs in 125 T20I matches at an average of 48.7 and a strike rate of 137.04.