India’s star batsman Virat Kohli showered praises on fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah during a grand felicitation ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Kohli described Bumrah as a national treasure and expressed his readiness to sign a petition to officially declare Bumrah a national heritage if Bumrah was willing.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) organized the felicitation ceremony to honor the T20 World Cup-winning team at Wankhede. Before the ceremony, the Indian team paraded the trophy in an open bus from Marine Drive, celebrating their victory with fans along the route.
Strong Performance by Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah delivered an exceptional performance in the T20 World Cup, taking a total of 15 wickets with an economy rate of 4.17. He was among the best bowlers in the tournament, boasting the top economy rate.
Kohli Praises Bumrah
During the ceremony, anchor Gaurav Kapoor asked Kohli if he would sign a petition to declare Jasprit Bumrah a national heritage. Kohli immediately responded, “I’m ready to do it now.”
Speaking about Bumrah, Kohli said, “Everyone should applaud for our comeback player in every match, Jasprit Bumrah.” Highlighting Bumrah’s crucial performance in the final, Kohli added, “In the last five overs of the final, he bowled two of those overs and made an amazing comeback. Bumrah is the best bowler of the century. This World Cup has been extraordinary for him.”
Reflecting on the Journey
Kohli expressed his gratitude to the fans, saying, “I want to thank the fans. I will never forget this. The last four days have been amazing. We wanted to get back from Barbados as soon as possible, but Hurricane Beryl prevented that. The final match against South Africa was also special for us. Like every fan, we felt the match was slipping away, but we turned the tables in the last five overs.”
Kohli on Winning Trophies
Having announced his retirement from T20 international cricket after the final, Kohli reflected on his career, saying, “When we won the World Cup in 2007 or 2011, the senior players cried a lot. I couldn’t connect with them and wondered why they were getting emotional. But now we can feel that we are seniors. Both me and Rohit were eager to win this trophy for a long time. First under my captaincy and then under Rohit. Now that we have won, it is special for us. Returning to Wankhede after winning is special for us.”
Emotional Moment with Rohit
Kohli also commented on a viral photo of him and Rohit Sharma holding the tricolour after the final. He said, “I don’t know about the internet-breaking. But in my 15-year career, I have never seen Rohit so emotional. I was going to the dressing room, and Rohit was coming out. Both got emotional and we hugged each other. That moment will be special for me.”
