Rohit Sharma, who emerged from modest beginnings, led India to World Cup triumph and bid farewell to T20 internationals. The 37-year-old captain lifted the T20 World Cup trophy in Barbados after a nail-biting seven-run victory over South Africa.

Post-win, Rohit and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from T20 internationals. Rohit's T20 career, spanning all nine editions of the World Cup, ended with him as the highest scorer in the format, amassing 4,231 runs, including five centuries in 159 matches since his 2007 debut.

In this ninth edition, India, led by Rohit, entered as favorites and remained unbeaten. Rohit played a pivotal role, scoring three half-centuries, including a decisive one against England in the semi-final. The victory, celebrated widely in India, was followed by Rohit's emotional retirement announcement in the West Indies. “I loved every moment. I started my India career playing this format. I wanted to win the cup and say (goodbye),” he said, saluting the crowd.

Nicknamed "Hitman" for his ability to score quickly, Rohit also captained Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles. He succeeded Kohli as India's captain in 2021, aiming for a major title since the 2013 Champions Trophy. Despite setbacks, including a loss in last year's ODI World Cup final to Australia, Rohit remained India’s key player in white-ball cricket and will continue in ODIs and Tests.

Rohit’s aggressive batting provided India with a strong start in many games. However, he faced double heartbreak in 2023, leading India to both the World Test final and the 50-over World Cup final, only to lose both to Australia. Despite these losses, Rohit's global stature remained intact, with former England captain Michael Vaughan praising him as a "genuine hero" and the "man who has changed the culture" of the team.

Rohit's journey wasn’t easy. He studied on a scholarship as his family couldn’t afford the $3.30 monthly fees. Overcoming these challenges, he became India's limited-overs star and the only batsman with three double-centuries in ODIs. Often criticized for his physique, Rohit has scored 10,709 runs at an average of over 49 in 262 ODIs since his debut.

His boyhood coach Dinesh Lad once said that if Rohit lifted the World Cup in Ahmedabad, he would be the "richest person in the world." Little did he know, this moment of glory would arrive a year later.