“Simultaneous departure of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from T20Is was a shock,” says Mohammed Shami

After Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from T20Is, fast bowler Mohammed Shami expressed his shock, saying that filling their place in the team would be a tough task.

New Delhi: After Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from T20Is, fast bowler Mohammed Shami expressed his shock, saying filling their place in the team would be a tough task.

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Shortly after India won their second T20 World Cup with a seven-run win over South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Kohli was awarded the player of the match award for his 59-ball 76 and said it was the last T20 of his international career.

The right-hander finished his T20I career as India’s second-highest run-scorer in the format, with 4188 runs in 125 matches at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04.

Later, Rohit announced in the post-match press conference that he was joining Virat in ending his T20I career, finishing his T20I career as the leading run-scorer with 4231 runs in 159 matches – and also holding the record for most centuries in men’s T20Is via fine tons.

“Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirement from T20Is has come as a shock. They have been stalwarts for India, putting in exceptional performances for the country for 15-16 years and winning their titles as the kings of white-ball cricket. Both of them retiring simultaneously is shocking, but it is part of the natural cycle when one player leaves and another comes in. However, replacing such stars in the team will be a big challenge,” Shami said.

“Saying goodbye to a journey after achieving your goal is a truly emotional moment. I would like to thank Rohit and Virat for winning games for the team, playing incredible innings for India and breaking records along the way,” he added.

Reflecting on India’s title win, Shami congratulated the Indian team and the support staff for the victory and thanked the fans for boosting the teams’ morale throughout the campaign.

“It is a huge achievement. Credit goes to the entire Indian team, support staff and fans who are boosting our confidence. I would like to congratulate all the players who worked hard to remain unbeaten in the tournament. I would also like to thank and congratulate the players who contributed to the team’s success in any capacity because every little step and prayer counts,” the 33-year-old coach said.

“Players who participate in the World Cup are lucky to have this opportunity, because only around 10% of players have the chance in their lifetime to be part of a World Cup-winning team,” he said. -he concluded.

Talking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulating the men in blue over the phone right after India’s triumph, Shami said, “I really appreciate that our Prime Minister has a passion for sports and personally congratulates our champions after their victories. It really builds the confidence of the team. »