Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja joined star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in stepping down from the T20 Internationals a day after Men in Blue defeated South Africa to win coveted title in the shortest format.
“With a heart full of gratitude, I bid farewell to T20 internationals,” Jadeja wrote on his official Instagram page a day after India’s win over South Africa in a thrilling World Cup final in Bridgetown.
“Like a steadfast horse galloping with pride, I’ve always given my best for my country and will continue to do so in other formats . Winning the T20 World Cup was a dream come true, a pinnacle of my T20 International career. Thank you for the memories, the cheers, and the unwavering support,” he added.
In less than 24 hours, three of India’s most senior and important players announced their retirements which may make things a bit difficult for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to find their replacement as all three were widely considered greats in their respective positions and roles.
In 74 T20Is played, Jadeja scored 515 runs and bagged 54 wickets. After India’s T20 World Cup win, Kohli announced his retirement immediately during a post-match ceremony saying that it is time for the next generation to take over. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma confirmed during a post-match press conference that he, too, is quitting the shorter format.
Rohit and Kohli’s retirement from the T20I format was not entirely unexpected. Neither player had featured in any T20Is following India’s semi-final defeat in the 2022 T20 World Cup, and they only resumed playing T20Is in January this year, with their focus on the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Kohli ended his 125-match T20I career as In-dia’s second-highest run-scorer in the format — 4,188 at an average of 48.69 and strike rate of 137.04. Meanwhile, Rohit departed from the format as its highest scorer — 4,231 runs in 159 matches — and also holds the record for the most centuries (five) in T20 internationals. He won two T20 World Cup titles: the inaugural one as a player in 2007 and now as captain in 2024.
