“Fans in Dallas Chant Mitchell Starc’s Name, Rohit Sharma’s Hilarious Response Goes Viral”

Team India’s thrilling triumph at the T20 World Cup 2024 was bittersweet, as it coincided with the retirement announcements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja from T20 internationals. Following a nail-biting final against South Africa, which India won by just seven runs, the legendary trio decided to step away from the shortest format of the game. This victory not only secured the World Cup title but also marked the end of head coach Rahul Dravid’s tenure, who has now been succeeded by Gautam Gambhir.

While in the USA for personal commitments, Rohit Sharma found himself at the center of attention during the launch of a cricket academy in Dallas. As fans in attendance began chanting the name of Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, Rohit humorously responded, “Calm down, guys,” which sent the crowd into laughter. This light-hearted moment was a nod to Starc’s performance in the recent World Cup clash, where Rohit famously scored 29 runs off him.

With a remarkable tally of 4,231 runs in 159 T20 matches, Rohit exits the format as its leading scorer, holding the record for the most centuries (five) in T20 internationals. His illustrious career includes winning two T20 World Cups—first in 2007 as a player and now in 2024 as captain.

As India transitions to a new era, Gambhir’s first challenge as head coach will be the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka. Reports indicate that both Kohli and Rohit are likely to be rested for the ODI matches. In their absence, all-rounder Hardik Pandya is expected to lead the T20I squad, while wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul will take charge in the ODIs.

The schedule for the tour of Sri Lanka has also seen adjustments, with the opening T20I now set for July 27, pushed back from the original date of July 26. India will play three T20Is followed by three ODIs during this important series, with matches lined up on July 27, July 28, and July 30.

As the team embarks on this new chapter, the legacy of the departing legends will undoubtedly influence the future of Indian cricket.