Virat Kohli reveals conversation with Rohit Sharma before iconic photo with T20 World Cup trophy

Virat Kohli opened up on the iconic photo with Rohit Sharma after India's seven-run win in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa on June 29. Kohli revealed that he had asked the Indian captain to hold the World Cup trophy for a while.

The two revered right-handed batters have been fantastic servants of Indian cricket, putting in consistent performances across formats for several years. When Rohit won the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007, Kohli was yet to make his India debut. Four years later, Rohit wasn't picked in India's ODI World Cup-winning side that featured Kohli. They played in India's ICC Champions Trophy-winning side in 2013 but celebrating together with a World Cup was something that remained elusive until a few days ago in the Caribbean.

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To celebrate the monumental occasion, Kohli and Rohit shared a special moment after India's historic win, posing with the T20 World Cup trophy in their hands and the Indian flag on the back. Opening up on the iconic photo of the two Indian stalwarts, former captain Kohli revealed that he had told skipper Rohit to hold the trophy for a while as he had been staying in the background, allowing the youngsters to bask in the glorious moment.

"It was a very special thing for him [Rohit] as well. His family is here, Samaira [Rohit's daughter] was on his shoulder. But I just felt like in the victory lap he was behind the whole time. I told him, you also hold the trophy for a while, for two minutes. We should take a picture together because this journey has been very long," Kohli revealed in a video shared by Star Sports.

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Rohit and Kohli announced their retirements from T20Is after India won their second T20 World Cup title. They finished as the two highest run-getters in T20I cricket. In 159 games, Rohit scored 4231 runs at an average of 32.05 and a strike rate of 140.89. Meanwhile, Kohli smashed 4188 runs in 125 T20Is at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04.