New Delhi, India

Rohit Sharma-led India won the 2024 T20 World Cup, beating South Africa by 7 runs in the final at the Kensington Oval, Barbados on June 29. After the epic win in the finale, courtesy of Virat Kohli's 76 and useful knocks from Axar Patel and Shivam Dube, followed by bowling heroics from Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, Indian captain Rohit was seen having a 'bite' of the Barbados pitch. The video of Rohit's unusual act went viral and left many bewildered. Now, the Indian opener has reacted to the whole incident and explained why he had a bite of the Barbados pitch. 

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Rohit stated that the ground had given them the win and he would remember it for the rest of his life. Thus, the 37-year-old -- who announced his T20I retirement shortly after India's win -- shared that he wanted to keep a piece of the track with him forever.

'I will remember that ground forever in my life and that pitch as well'

After the captain's photo shoot with the T20 WC trophy, Rohit said in a video shared by BCCI, "See, those things are actually, I don't think I can describe that because nothing was scripted. It was all, you know, whatever was coming instinctively, I was feeling the moment, when I went to the pitch, because that pitch gave us this. We played on that particular pitch and we won the game, That particular ground as well. I will remember that ground forever in my life and that pitch as well. So I wanted to have a piece of it with me. Yeah, those moments are very, very special. And the place where all our dreams came true. I wanted something of it. So that was the feeling behind it."

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Also read: Watch: Dravid recalls how Rohit convinced him to continue as India coach in emotional speech after T20 WC win

HERE IS THE VIDEO OF ROHIT'S ACT:

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Talking about the final, India won the toss and chose to bat first versus Aiden Markram-led South Africa. At 34-3, India were in trouble before Kohli's 59-ball 76, Axar's 47 and Dube's vital 27 took the Men in Blue to 176-7. In reply, Proteas were cruising towards the target courtesy of Heinrich Klaasen's 52 before Bumrah's economical death-overs bowling led India's comeback. Hardik's 3 for 20 and two-fers each from Bumrah and Arshdeep restricted SA to 169 for 8 as India ended their 11-year-long ICC title drought.

India won their first-ever ICC title since the 2013 Champions Trophy. In addition, this became India's second T20 WC title after 2007.