Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma etched his name in the history books by becoming the second oldest captain to secure an ICC trophy. Leading his team to a memorable victory against South Africa in the T20 World Cup final held in Barbados, Rohit, at 37 years and 60 days old, also set the record as the oldest captain to win a T20 World Cup.
Rohit now stands as the second oldest captain to win any ICC tournament, with only Imran Khan surpassing him. Imran Khan was 39 years and 172 days old when he led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 ODI World Cup final against England.
1. Imran Khan – 1992 ODI World Cup – 39y 172d
2. Rohit Sharma – 2024 T20 World Cup – 37y 60d
3. Brian Lara – 2004 Champions Trophy – 35y 146d
4. Aaron Finch – 2021 T20 World Cup – 34y 362d
5. Clive Lloyd – 1979 ODI World Cup – 34y 296d
The final match saw India posting a challenging total of 176 for the loss of seven wickets after Rohit won the toss and opted to bat first. Despite a shaky start with early dismissals of Rohit, Rishabh Pant, and Suryakumar Yadav, the team found stability thanks to Virat Kohli’s magnificent innings of 76 runs off 59 balls. This performance was especially notable as Kohli had struggled throughout the tournament.
South Africa’s chase fell just short, finishing at 169 for the loss of eight wickets. Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen were the standout performers for their side, scoring 39 off 31 balls and 52 off 27 balls, respectively. Despite their efforts, South Africa could not overcome India’s disciplined bowling attack, falling seven runs short of the target.
This triumph marks India’s second T20 World Cup title, the first being the inaugural 2007 tournament where they defeated Pakistan. It also ended India’s decade-long wait for an ICC trophy, the last being the 2013 Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.
As Indian cricket celebrates this monumental achievement, the retirements of Rohit and Kohli herald the end of an era. Their contributions to Indian cricket have been immense, and they leave behind a legacy of excellence and resilience.
