Team India's star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on Sunday announced his retirement from T20 format after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
In a post on Instagram, Ravindra Jadeja wrote," With a heart full of gratitude, I bid farewell to T20 internationals. 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."
Jadeja has played 74 T20Is, making 515 runs without ever reaching fifty and 54 wickets at an economy of 7.1. It was a tad underwhelming for a player who always prided on his ability to hustle through the overs without losing control over his own craft or over the batters.
In this World Cup, in fact, Axar Patel stamped himself as the vital cog in India's campaign, as the left-arm spinner got more overs and a chance to bat up the order, often the schtick of Jadeja. It was certainly not a reflection of the team management's estimation of Jadeja's abilities.
He perhaps, was withheld as an insurance cover for a spectacular top and middle-order collapse which eventually did not happen.
PM Narendra Modi tweeted, "Dear Ravindra Jadeja, you have performed exceptionally as an all-rounder. Cricket lovers admire your stylish stroke play, spin and superb fielding. Thank you for the enthralling T20 performances over the years. My best wishes for your endeavours ahead."
Earlier two of Indian cricket's all-time greats, skipper Rohit Sharma and superstar Virat Kohli, announced their retirement from T20 Internationals after playing monumental roles in the team's second world title conquest in the format here.
Kohli was the first to declare his decision after being adjudged player of the match for his sublime 76 in the seven-run win over South Africa in the final here. Soon after, Rohit also announced that having achieved what he came for, it was time to step aside.
"This was my last T20 World Cup and this is exactly what we wanted to achieve. This is an amazing game. I was telling Rohit (Sharma) when we went out to bat, I was like, one day you feel like you can't get a run and then you come out and then things happen. God is great," the 35-year-old Kohli told host broadcasters Star Sports after bagging the player of the match award. "I bow my head in gratitude. I'm just really grateful I was able to get the job done for the team on the day that it mattered the most," he added.
Rohit, whose searing 41-ball 92-run knock in the Super 8s clash against Australia would be remembered for years to come, chose the post-match press conference for his statement.
"This was my last game as well. No better time to say goodbye. I wanted this (trophy) badly. It's very hard to put in words," Rohit told the post-match press conference after ending India's over-a-decade long title drought "This what I wanted and it happened. I was very desperate for this in my life. Happy that we crossed the line this time," he added.
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