'Ending on a high' - Sachin Tendulkar writes heartfelt note to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as Indian duo bring curtain down on illustrious T20I career

The whole of India was elated in joy after the Men in Blue ended their 11-year quest for an ICC trophy by defeating South Africa in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024. But what followed was a shell-shock moment for fans who were treated with retirement updates of two talismans, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

It was India's first T20 World Cup win since clinching the elusive title in 2007. They have been in the hunt for the past 17 years and Rohit and Kohli were the torchbearers. Now when the jinx is broken, the time has come for them to put an end to their illustrious career.

Also Read: 3 Potential replacements for Rohit Sharma as T20I opener

The cricketing fraternity rallied on social media to pay tribute to the two modern-day greats as they bid farewell to one of the formats in grand fashion. Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar posted a heartfelt lengthy note on his X handle congratulating the duo on their successful careers.

“@ImRo45, I've witnessed your evolution from a promising youngster to a World Cup-winning captain from close quarters. Your unwavering commitment & exceptional talent have brought immense pride to the nation. Leading to a T20 World Cup victory is the perfect culmination of your stellar career. Well done, Rohit!

“@imVkohli, you have been a true champion of this sport. You may have had a rough time earlier in the tournament, but last night you proved why you're truly one of the greats of the gentleman's game. Competing in six World Cups and clinching victory in the last one is an experience I know well. I hope to see you continue winning matches for India in the longer formats of the game," tweeted Sachin.

𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐍 𝐀 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇@ImRo45, I’ve witnessed your evolution from a promising youngster to a World Cup-winning captain from close quarters. Your unwavering commitment & exceptional talent have brought immense pride to the nation. Leading 🇮🇳 to a T20 World Cup 🏆 victory… pic.twitter.com/QSEui6Bq2K

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) June 30, 2024

Also Read: 3 Potential replacements for Virat Kohli in T20Is

Rohit Sharma joins Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni in elite list 

Rohit Sharma finished the tournament as the second-leading run-scorer with 257 runs in eight matches. He became the third Indian captain to win a World Cup after Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni. The veteran opener is also currently the all-time highest run-getter in T20Is – 4231 runs in 159 matches. 

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli brought the curtain down with a Player of the Match honour. He struggled to find form until the semi-finals but was able to produce his best performance when it mattered most. Kohli is the first cricketer to cross the 4000-run mark in this format and his tally currently is 4188 from 125 matches. 

Also Read: Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma lauded by Indian PM Narendra Modi through phone call after T20 World Cup