Emotional Rohit Sharma does a Novak Djokovic, eats soil of Barbados pitch after T20 World Cup 2024 triumph; watch viral video

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma may have started a new tradition as he tasted the soil of Barbados pitch after India's T20 World Cup 2024 triumph.

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Arun Rawal

Rohit Sharma eats soil of Barbados pitch (Screengrab: ICC, Instagram)

Rohit Sharma eats soil of Barbados pitch (Screengrab: ICC, Instagram)

Highlights:

Rohit Sharma tasted the soil of Barbados pitch after India's 7-run win over South Africa.

Rohit got emotional as India beat South Africa to lift T20 World Cup title for the second time.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma realised his dream of winning a World Cup final on June 29 at Kensington Oval, Barbados. India were tested by South Africa before pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh defended 30 runs in the last five overs and guided them to a seven-run win. Rohit got emotional and lied down on the ground as Pandya bowled the last over of the match. After he let his emotions out, Rohit walked towards the pitch and tasted the soil of Barbados where India emerged victorious. 
 

Tennis legend Novaj Djokovic also eats the grass of the court after every Wimbledon win. Djokovic said that eating the grass came to him spontaneously and it tasted good. He has been celebrating his Wimbledon wins by eating the grass since 2018.

Rohit bids goodbye to T20Is

Alongside Virat Kohli, Rohit also bid goodbye to T20Is. Rohit announced his retirement from T20Is in the post-match press conference 
 

“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,” the 36-year-old told the reporters.
 

“This is 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. 
 

ALSO READ: 'I've seen him for so many years, but even I don't know what exactly is with him': Rohit Sharma fails to explain Jasprit Bumrah's masterclass

Hard work pays off 

After the win, Rohit said that the hard work of three-four years has paid off. 
 

“Very hard to sum up what we have been through for the last 3-4 years. To be honest, we worked very hard as individuals and as a team a team, lot has gone on behind the scenes for us to be here today and win this game. It is not what we did today, it is what we have been doing for the last 3-4 years. That's the the result that has come for us today. We have played lots of high pressure games in the past as well and have been on the wrong side as well. But the guys understand what needs to be done,” he said in the post-match presentation. 
 

ALSO READ: Hardik Pandya reacts to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring from T20Is after T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, says ‘There is a lot of time for 2026’

Snatching a win from jaws of defeat

Rohit lauded his teammates for overcoming a tough situation as South Africa dominated the proceedings in the middle overs. 
 

“Today was the perfect example of when the back is against the wall, what is required. We stuck together as a team and the guys, all of us, even when at one point it was looking South Africa's way. Overall, as a team, as a group on the field, we wanted this really bad. We wanted to win this. To win a tournament like this, a lot goes behind the scenes, a lot of effort, a lot of minds need to come together. I am very proud of this bunch of boys I have and the management as well for giving us that liberty to go and play, to execute, for having that trust in each one of us,” he added.
 

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