Virat Kohli is No.1 batsman and Rohit Sharma is No.1 captain: Shoaib Akhtar pays tribute to batters as they retire from T20Is

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar congratulated India captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for their sensational career in the T20Is for Team India. He said that both the legends of Indian cricket finished on a high note as they have been incredible servants for the team. 

India National Cricket Team finally ended their ICC title drought as they won the T20 World Cup 2024. They won their first-ever title after winning the Champions Trophy in 2013 and it was finally a joy for the team after a plethora of heartbreaks, which saw them losing many important events, having been close to the title. 

As India won the T20 World Cup 2024, it also marked an end to an era as greats of the game Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from the T20Is. It was was first Kohli, who after winning the Player of the Match in the final, said that it was time for the next generation to take on. 

And after a while, captain Rohit Sharma during the press conference announced the decision that it was the best time for him to say goodbye to the format. He stated that he always wanted to win the T20 World Cup and say goodbye to the shortest format of the game, which he has enjoyed playing. 

Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma gave their best for India in the T20Is. In their last dance, they were impressive too, and made sure that they ended with the title under their belt. While the captain was the leading run-getter in the tournament with over 250 runs, Kohli stepped up in the final and scored 76 runs. 

While talking about the retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, saying that there were speculations about them getting fired after the arrival of Gautam Gambhir. But claimed that those were premature statements. Speaking in a video posted on his Twitter account, he explained: 

"Two big names in India, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have retired and finished on a high note. Speculation was that some senior players would be fired after Gautam Gambhir's arrival. I thought it was a premature statement from them."

Both have made a lot of contributions in cricket - Shoaib Akhtar on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma 

Shoaib Akhtar further hailed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as the no.1 batters in the cricket and highlighted their contributions to the cricket. He explained: 

"Virat Kohli is the number one batsman in the world. Rohit Sharma is also the number one batsman and the captain. Both have made a lot of contributions to cricket. They have finished on a high note. Man of the Match, Virat Kohli."

What an amazing farewell for Rohit & Virat. pic.twitter.com/NJumVWMU6V

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) June 30, 2024

Virat Kohli played 125 matches for India in the T20Is. He is India's second-highest run-scorer in the format. In his career, he slammed 4188 at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04. 

On the other hand, Rohit Sharma finished his T20I career as the all-time leading run-getter with 4231 runs. The skipper finished with five hundred, the most by a batter in T20I cricket. He also hit 32 fifties and had a career strike rate of 140.