'HAVE BEEN THROUGH IN THE LAST 4–5 YEARS': ASHWIN, UTHAPPA IN TEARS AFTER INDIA BEAT SA IN T20 WC 2024 FINAL

Former India cricketers Robin Uthappa and R Ashwin were emotional while talking about India's 2024 T20 World Cup glory. Uthappa was taking part in a conversation on Ashwin’s YouTube channel on June 29.

The former Karnataka-based batter could not hold back his tears while dissecting India’s journey throughout the World Cup and also what it mattered to Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and coach Rahul Dravid. The Indian team finished their 11-year wait for an ICC trophy after outplaying Aiden Markram-led Proteas side in Barbados.

A lot of former cricketers lauded India's T20 World Cup campaign and also for the fact that it was the last game for coach Rahul Dravid as his tenure ended in the best possible way.

"You would have found me in tears, I was so full of emotions. I went through each individual player and what they have been through... What they have been through in the last 4–5 years, the criticism, the trolling and you (Ashwin) have been a part of it as well. To go through the hardships and trolling, the hate, to take it day in and day out is not easy. For people to continue doubting your ability, you even doubt yourself. That is not easy...I cried for each individual player. I went and bowed before god and said thank you. As a cricketer who played for India, I said thank you," Uthappa said.

"If I look at Rahul Dravid's journey...In his last game as Indian coach, probably his last game with BCCI, he became a World Champion. If you have to talk about Virat, the way he even played today. You saw a man who valued every ball that he played. You saw a man who valued his wicket through and through the course of his innings. You saw a man through and through with his approach”, he added.

"If you go to Rohit, the celebration, we should be screaming and shouting, going mad. But you know what we all experienced? We experienced relief. I felt the burden, as a former Indian cricketer. We just silenced these people who have constantly doubted us," Uthappa stated.

Post winning the T20 World Cup, stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirement from the shortest format of the game.

2024-06-30T15:59:31Z dg43tfdfdgfd