Bumrah dismisses retirement talks as Virat Kohli labels pacer '8th wonder of the world'

Jasprit Bumrah is now being celebrated as one of the all-time great fast bowlers after his exceptional performance in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, which played a pivotal role in India's thrilling victory.

With South Africa needing just 30 runs off 30 balls at the Kensington Oval, the game seemed almost out of India's reach. However, Bumrah's remarkable spell during the slog overs turned the tide, applying immense pressure and leading India to a seven-run win.

Bumrah, integral to India's cricket setup across all formats, faces the challenges of managing his workload to avoid burnout or injury. Despite these concerns, the question of whether he should retire from T20Is to focus on longer formats has been raised. Bumrah, however, has no plans to step back.

“It’s (my retirement) is a long way away. I have just started. Hopefully, it is far away now,” Bumrah said during a ceremony held at Wankhede Stadium to celebrate Team India’s world cup triumph.

 “It was unreal. Usually, I am not the one who is at a loss of words, but seeing my son, the emotions that came in. I never cry after the game, but I started crying, and I cried two, three times,” Bumrah said.

Batting superstar Virat Kohli also praised Bumrah's contribution, suggesting that Bumrah should be declared the eighth wonder of the world.

During a special event at Wankhede, presenter Gaurav Kapoor mentioned the idea of signing a petition to declare Bumrah a national treasure. "I will sign it right now," Kohli enthusiastically responded.

He further acknowledged Bumrah's impact, saying, "I am sure, like everyone in this stadium, we also felt that the game might slip away. But Bumrah brought us back into the tournament time and again. We are lucky to have him."

The celebrations in Mumbai were grand, with Team India parading from the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) to Wankhede Stadium. Fans lined the streets, especially along Marine Drive, illuminating the night with their phone torches in a spectacular display as the champions made their way through the city.