Virat Kohli Shares Emotional Moment with Rohit Sharma After T20 World Cup Victory
Mumbai: For the first time in their 15-year association, Virat Kohli witnessed an emotional Rohit Sharma when the Indian captain embraced him with tear-filled eyes following the T20 World Cup triumph. Kohli revealed this touching moment to a packed audience at the Wankhede Stadium during the team’s felicitation ceremony on Thursday.
“This is the first time in 15 years that I have seen Rohit show so much emotion. When we were climbing those steps (at Kensington Oval), he was crying and I was crying,” Kohli recounted during the ceremony, which followed a memorable open bus victory parade.
Kohli reflected on his career, recalling his statement from the same ground at age 21, when he said it was only fair to carry Sachin Tendulkar on their shoulders after he carried the burden of Indian cricket for 21 years. Now, at 35, Kohli, who announced his retirement from the shortest format after securing the trophy last week, expressed his hope that he and Rohit had successfully shouldered the burden for 15 years and brought the Cup home.
“I hope we (Rohit and I) have carried the burden and there is no better place to bring it (the trophy) back to than here (Wankhede),” Kohli said, acknowledging that he knew during the innings break of the final that it was his last game.
Kohli also reminisced about witnessing the emotions of senior players like Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, and Yuvraj Singh after the 2011 World Cup win. He admitted that, as the youngest member of the team at the time, he didn’t fully grasp their emotions, but now he does.
“I couldn’t connect with the emotions of the senior players who cried that night, but now I do,” said the cricket team’s current elder statesman.
On a lighter note, when emcee Gaurav Kapoor suggested signing a petition to declare Jasprit Bumrah a national treasure, Kohli promptly agreed. “I will sign it right now,” he said. “Bumrah is a once-in-a-generation player and I am so glad he plays for us,” Kohli added.
For Jasprit Bumrah, the celebration was an unforgettable experience. “This ground is really special. I came here as a kid, and what I saw today, I have never seen anything like it. Seeing my son made me emotional, and I didn’t have words. I told my wife that I wanted to see my son (see me playing),” he shared.
Outgoing coach Rahul Dravid echoed the sentiment, expressing his deep appreciation for the fans’ love and support. “I am going to miss this love. What I saw on the streets tonight, I won’t forget it,” Dravid said, his voice hoarse from excitement during the parade.
