Rohit Sharma on winning the T20 WC 2024 final: India ended an 11-year wait and won the T20 World Cup by defeating South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling match. Indian cricket fans sitting in front of the TV with Rohit Sharma’s team were teary-eyed when the unfinished dream finally came to an end in West Indies in Ahmedabad on November 19 last year. This ICC title had to wait for 11 years and the hero of this victory was Virat Kohli who also said goodbye to T20 cricket with the win.
Champion team captain Rohit said on the win
It is difficult to put into words what we have endured in the last 3-4 years. To be honest, we have worked very hard individually and as a team, a lot has happened behind the scenes to get here today and win this game. This is not what we have done today, this is what we have been doing for the last 3-4 years. This is the result for us today. We have played many high pressure games before and been on the wrong side. But the players understand what has to be done. Today was a perfect example of what to do when your back is against the wall.
We worked as a team and all the players worked together, even when it looked like the South African team was losing. Overall, as a team, as a group on the field, we really wanted it. We wanted to win it. To win a tournament like this, a lot goes on behind the scenes, a lot of hard work, a lot of brains. I am very proud of the players I played with and also the management, who gave us the freedom to play and showed faith in all of us.
It starts with the management, coach, captain and then the players go on the field and play. Throughout the tournament I think we performed brilliantly and credit goes to the management. No one doubted Virat’s form. We know how much ability they have, big players step up whenever they get a chance. Virat held one end for us, we wanted a player to bat as long as possible. This was not a wicket where a new player could come in and play directly.
This is where Virat’s experience comes in handy. I’m one of those people who’s watched him play all these years, but I don’t even know how he does it. This is a masterclass. He backs up his skills and is a very confident player. Hardik also performed brilliantly by bowling the last over. It’s amazing to have fans from New York to Barbados supporting us. And all the people of India, it’s late night but I’m sure they’re all waiting to see it. Like us, they have been waiting for a long time.
India won its first T20 World Cup in 2007 and its last ICC title was the Champions Trophy in South Africa in 2013 under Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The team lost to Australia in the final of the ODI World Cup played in India last year.