Rohit Sharma Reveals Why He Ate Barbados Pitch Soil After India Won World Cup

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JULY 02,2024

It has been a few days, but we are still not over Team India's iconic win as they defeated South Africa to lift the glorious T20 World Cup 2024. The celebrations after India's thrilling T20 World Cup win were a sight to behold. While emotions ran high for the entire team, Rohit Sharma's one gesture resonated deeply with fans.

For those living under the rock, the men in blue defeated South Africa in the T20 World Cup finals on Saturday to become the reigning champions. The entire team displayed a splendid performance in a match that soon became intense and nail-biting.

Despite India's shaky start, Virat Kohli's stunning innings led India to reach a competitive total of 176/6. South Africa started on a rather promising note, with Heinrich Klaseen displaying a terrific performance, leading fans to almost believe the trophy had slipped out of our hands.

However, the deadly bowling trio of Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh stepped up in the last four overs, turning the match in India's favor, as the team secured a seven-run win.

Rohit Sharma's appreciation for the Barbados soil

In a heartwarming video posted by the ICC, the Indian skipper was seen on the Kensignton Oval pitch, not just soaking in the victory but also taking a bite of the grass from the pitch. The seemingly simple gesture held a rather deeper meaning.

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Speaking about the virtuous moment from the T20 World Cup finals, Rohit Sharma said, 'Nothing was scripted it was all coming instinctively.'

Also Read: Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli's Wholesome Winning Moments

He spoke about Barbados being a significant pitch for the team, as it was a key factor in India's victory. It will be a place that will be etched in his memory forever. Eating the speck of soil was a medium for him to carry the historic win with him, a physical and metaphorical reminder of the dream come true.

Captain Rohit Sharma takes us through the surreal emotions after #TeamIndia's T20 World Cup Triumph - By @Moulinparikh @ImRo45 | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/oQbyD8rvijmdash BCCI (@BCCI) July 2, 2024

'I was feeling the moment because that pitch gave us this (the T20 World Cup). We played on that particular pitch, and we won the game on that particular ground. I will remember that ground and that pitch forever in my life. So I wanted to have a piece of it with me. Those moments are very, very special, and the place where all our dreams came true, I wanted something of it. That was the feeling behind it,' Rohit said in a video shared by BCCI.

Rohit Sharma's retirement speech

While it will forever be an unforgettable day for all cricket fanatics, it will also be one of the saddest days in the history of the sport as Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirement from the T20 format.

The Indian captain, who played around 159 T20 internationals, ended his career on a high by leading India in the list of reigning champions.

Confirming his decision to retire from T20 cricket, Rohit Sharma said, 'This was my last (T20) game as well... There is no better time to say goodbye to this format. I've loved every moment of this. I started my Indian career playing this format. This is what I wanted I wanted to win the cup."

Also Read: Indian Cricketers Who Announced Retirement in 2024

"I wanted this badly. Very hard to put in words. It was a very emotional moment for me. I was very desperate for this title in my life. Happy that we eventually crossed the line," he further added.