Why did Rohit Sharma taste Barbados’ pitch after T20 World Cup win?

The emotions of India’s T20 World Cup victory in Barbados ran deep, etched in the team’s performance and the captain’s heartfelt gestures. Rohit Sharma, the victorious skipper, displayed an outpouring of emotions as he tasted the Barbados pitch after the T20 World Cup win.

One particular moment that went viral on social media was when Rohit walked to the center of the pitch, knelt down, and picked up a speck of dirt, bringing it to his lips and tasting it in a symbolic gesture. This act, reminiscent of Novak Djokovic’s grass-eating celebration at Wimbledon, sparked curiosity among fans.

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However, Rohit assured everyone that his action wasn’t a pre-planned act but an expression of overwhelming emotions. “Nothing was scripted; it was all coming instinctively,” he clarified in a video message recorded by the BCCI during his photoshoot with the trophy.

“I was feeling the moment because that pitch gave us this (T20 World Cup), we played on that particular pitch and we won the game on that particular ground, I will remember that ground and that pitch forever in my life. So I wanted to have a piece of it with me. Those moments are very, very special; and the place where all our dreams came true, I wanted something of it. That was the feeling behind it,” he said.

Watch: Why Rohit Sharma tasted the pitch?

Rohit Sharma revealed that why he ate the a soil from Barbados Pitch after lifting the WC Trophy. Very good video.

"Because this pitch gave us the WC and time to show respect to the pitch"pic.twitter.com/vP6gZyko61

— Farrago Abdullah Parody (@abdullah_0mar) July 2, 2024

India’s victory was achieved by a mere margin of 7 runs in a nail-biting final over. South Africa, needing 30 runs off the last 30 balls while chasing India’s score of 176, seemed to be in control. However, a combination of Hardik Pandya’s and Jasprit Bumrah’s crucial bowling spells, coupled with Suryakumar Yadav’s exceptional catch, turned the tide in India’s favour, restricting the Proteas to 169/8.

Describing the surreal feeling of victory, Rohit Sharma said, “The feeling actually is surreal. I would say it still hasn’t sunk in totally. It’s been a great moment, right from when the game got over till now. It feels like a dream…Although it has happened, it feels like it hasn’t happened. That’s the emotion, that’s the feeling you have.”

“We had dreamt about it, worked hard as a unit for such a long period of time. To see this now with us, we feel quite relieved as well because when you work hard for something and you eventually get it in the end, it feels really really nice,” he added.

The post-match press conference saw a further surprise as Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from T20I cricket, a decision that mirrored Virat Kohli’s announcement made shortly after the final.

Concluding his message, Rohit, holding the coveted T20 World Cup trophy close, said, “Like I said, this moment was very, very special for all of us, and I want to live it, each moment, each minute, each second that is passing by, I want to make the most of it.”

The victory parade might be delayed due to a hurricane near Barbados, but the celebration of this hard-earned triumph and the emotions it evoked will undoubtedly remain etched in the memories of the Indian cricket team and its fans for a long time to come.