Unseen Video Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Hugging Before Opening the Innings In T20 World Cup Final

An unseen video from the finals of the T20 World Cup 2024 is going viral, showing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli giving each other a gentle hug before opening the innings against South Africa. India went on to win the match, crowning themselves World T20 champions for the second time after a 17-year gap.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been part of almost all of India's T20 World Cup campaigns. Rohit played in the first T20 World Cup in 2007, with Kohli joining in 2012. Both batsmen lead in various World Cup stats, including runs, strike rates, and half-centuries. It was widely speculated that this might be their last T20 outing, and they ensured it was memorable. 

This tournament marked their first time as openers. Their partnership reminded fans of the 2012 Asia Cup, where Sunil Gavaskar predicted a bright future for Indian batting with them. They lived up to the expectations, achieving numerous milestones in their careers.

The hug was a special moment for these stalwarts, who have played together since 2009 and have now become legends. While fist bumps and bat taps are customary before taking strike, hugs between players are rare.

Check out the viral video:

Little did they know, this was their last hurrah in the T20 format. After 12 years and multiple T20 World Cup campaigns, their determined journey came to an end. Both bid farewell in style, with Kohli scoring the most runs in the finals and Rohit leading in tournament runs.

Kohli received the Player of the Match award for his game-changing 76-run knock. The 35-year-old also announced his retirement from T20 Internationals then and there. Captain Rohit Sharma announced his decision later at a press conference, stating it was time for him to step back and focus on other formats, allowing youngsters to take the lead. 

Also, with them Ravindra Jadeja also announced his retirement from the T20 International. Ravindra Jadeja made his T20 World Cup debut in the ICC T20 World Cup 2009 held in England. He played a crucial role for the Indian team, particularly remembered for his all-round performances. 

India's celebrations knew no bounds after their World Cup win. Whether in Delhi or Mumbai, streets overflowed with fans celebrating the champions.

While the new team may lack Kohli and Sharma, these youngsters are poised to become legends themselves. This was evident in the second match against Zimbabwe, where Abhishek scored a rapid century in just 47 deliveries. Ruturaj Gaikwad added 77 runs off 47 balls after India lost captain Shubhman Gill early. Rinku Singh contributed 48 runs off 22 balls to seal the innings.