“This World Cup was for Rohit Sharma” – Kuldeep Yadav

India’s spinner Kuldeep Yadav reckons the T20 World Cup win was for the captain, Rohit Sharma. The wrist-spinner lauded Rohit for playing an instrumental role with the bat to take India to glory in the T20 World Cup.

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. Furthermore, Rohit Sharma finished his T20I career as the leading run-getter in the format, with 4231 runs in 159 matches.

The Indian skipper was able to lead from the front throughout the T20I showpiece and deserves a lot of credit as he gave some solid starts at the top of the order. 

“This World Cup was for him, the way he planned and the way he loved this team,” Kuldeep told Sports Today. “The intent and approach that he used to talk about in team meetings, he implemented that in the tournament while batting, led from the front. So this trophy is for him.”

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirement after winning the T20 World Cup. Kuldeep said the trio will be happy to go on a high.

“There is probably no better feeling than this,” Kuldeep said. “In the final Virat bhai hit the 70-odd runs, won the player of the match. I am sure he will be very happy with his career in the T20 format, same for Rohit bhai. Jadeja as well, he played such brilliant cricket over the years,” he added.

Kuldeep added he will never forget the celebrations in Mumbai after returning home. The team was given a hero’s welcome and a huge number of fans gathered at the Marine Drive and the Wankhede Stadium.

“I’ll never forget it. It was the first time I experienced something like that. Rohit bhai probably experienced that earlier as he had won in 2007. What happened in Mumbai was just unreal for me,” Kuldeep said in the same interview.

Meanwhile, Kuldeep didn’t play in the USA as the pitches were seamer-friendly. However, he was able to hit the ground running in the West Indies, taking 10 wickets in five matches at an impressive average of 13.90 and an economy rate of 6.95 in the T20I showpiece.