After leading India to a historic T20 World Cup victory in Barbados on June 29, Rohit Sharma announced he would be retiring from T20I cricket for India. This came as a surprise, as just prior to the final, a video had circulated of Rohit stating he was not planning to retire from the shortest format. Rohit’s captaincy was instrumental in India’s triumph, as they edged past South Africa by 7 runs in the final.

In a recently shared video, a candid Rohit Sharma revealed to reporters that his initial plan was to continue playing the shortest format of the game for the nation. However, the India skipper now believes the situation has changed, and he feels it is the perfect moment to step aside after winning the cup.

“Initially, I was not going to retire from T20I cricket. However, the current situation has presented an ideal opportunity for me to bow out on a high note – by winning the cup and signing off on a triumphant note,” stated Rohit in the video.

In the video, Rohit was also heard expressing that he would keep playing in the IPL, ” I will play in the IPL, 100 percent.”

In the post-game press conference, Sharma cited his long-standing ambition to win the T20 World Cup, and the current moment was the ideal time for him to step away from the format and retire.

“This was my final match in this format. I have thoroughly enjoyed playing it since I first started. Now is the perfect time to bid farewell. I have cherished every moment. This format is where I began my India career. Winning the Cup and saying goodbye is exactly what I wanted to achieve,” remarked Rohit to the press.

The 37-year old batter will continue to feature in Tests and ODI’s for India.