The IPL had just concluded and now Rohit and Virat were gearing up for the T20 world cup.

Virat was sitting on the balcony of Rohit's Alibaug farmhouse, staring out into oblivion.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Rohit said as he passed the cup of coffee to Virat.

Virat took a sip of the coffee and said, "Nothing much to be honest I was just going down the memory lane."

Rohit hummed but didn't say anything for a while, they sat in a comfortable silence, sipping their coffees.

"Vi it still hurts." Rohit said after a while and Virat put his hand over his.

No more words needed to be said, Virat understood what Rohit meant, he always did.

"I can't go on and on like this you know." Rohit said as his eyes shone with unshed tears.

"I know Ro I know, I have decided something." Virat said still not looking at Rohit.

Rohit turned to look at Virat and straight away knew what was going on in Virat's mind.

"To be honest same. It's time to hang my boots at least in this format for now." Rohit said, his voice somber.

Virat hummed, "I have also decided the same Ro, whether we win whether we lose this is my last T20 world cup." He said.

"Like I always say whether we lose whether we win we have to smile." Rohit said, a smile on his face.

Virat just nodded now, a smile on his face. They sat in companionable silence.

"It feels weird you know that we are slowly fazing out. People will forget us soon enough." Virat said.

"That would be so muc better, our so called fans just want to troll on our names. I hate it." Rohit said making Virat laugh.

"You are just so awfully quite Ro, tell me what's going on in your mind."

"It feels weird you know Vi, I know our boys are more than capable to carry the team forward but it feels like I am lacking somewhere in my responsibility by leaving them in between." Rohit poured out his feelings.

"Our boys we'll surely carry the team and Ro you aren't lacking anywhere, you were the best big brother and captain they could ever ask for." Virat said making Rohit smile.

"Itna mature kab se ho gaya yaar tu benstokes." Rohit asked holding Virat in a headlock.

"Abey chodh mai humesha se hi mature tha!" Virat said tapping on the arm around his neck.

Rohit chuckled and removed his hand, sitting back again.

"We came such a long way together na." Rohit said looking at Virat.

"Yeah and you managed to make everyone stick to you along the line no?" Virat said giving a side eye to Rohit.

"I love when you get jealous." Rohit said as he nudged Virat slightly, with a teasing smile.

"Shut up I don't get jealous." Virat said, knowing well that he was lying.

Rohit looked at him pointedly and Virat, "Ok yes I do get jealous, especially over you. But what can I do everyone just clings to you." He said.

Rohit just put his arm over Virat's shoulders and patted his back. They sat in some more companionable silence.

"I don't know how to tell about this to Mahi bhai and the kids." Rohit said quietly.

"We'll not, they'll directly get to know with everyone else." Virat said and Rohit looked at him, shocked.

"Vi how can we do that? They'll chew us off." Rohit said, a hint of amusement and surprise in his voice.

"If we tell them they'll whine to us all along the tournament, they might even let it affect their performance so no we ain't telling them this now." Virat said.

Rohit nodded in understanding, "Yeah you are right, we'll announce it after the tournament is over." He said.

"Hopefully after we win a trophy together." Virat said smiling and looking at Rohit.

"Hopefully after we win a trophy together." Rohit agreed looking straight ahead at the sky and praying that it turns out true.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Ind vs Pak

"Look at them running." Virat said laughing while sitting besided Rohit in the dugout.

"They are trying their level best, scoring runs by running which we couldn't." Rohit said laughing back.

"That's not something to laugh about Ro." Virat said barely containing his laugh.

"It is because I am sure they'll collapse just like us." Rohit said, his voice sure.

"Let's see." Virat said reassured on hearing the tone.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dressing room
After match

"Didn't I tell you we were gonna win, both of you are my forever MVPs." Rohit said hugging Virat and Jassi tight.

~~~~~~~~

Ind vs Aus
Before match

Rohit was sitting in the dressing room, all padded up, ready.

He had his head in his hands as he was having flashbacks.

A hand came up on his shoulders, startling him, he looked back to see Virat standing there with a grim face.

"What did I tell you?" Virat asked, looking angry. Rohit frowned at that question and the expressions.

"What happened? I didn't do anything." Rohit said automatically.

Virat sighed and sat down in the chair in front of Rohit.

"Ro I know what you are thinking about. Please don't think about it. It harms your mental and physical health and I hate it." Virat said, his eyes pleading.

Rohit looked at Virat with a weird expression for a moment and took a deep breath.

He stood up abruptly and nodded at Virat, extending his hand, "Come on Vi let's go, I am not going to sit here wallowing in self pity." Rohit said.

Virat smiled, stood up and pulled Rohit in for a hug, "Ro I am so proud of you and love you no matter what." He said patting Rohit's back.

Unfortunately Virat was struggling and got out. He looked at Rohit, his face showing the guilt clearly.

Rohit just shook his jead and gave him a genuine smile before his face hardened in determination.

Virat walked back to the pavillion and sat in between Rahul bhai and Jassi.

Rohit started thrashing the ball all over the ground, he attempted one particularly risky shot and almost got out.

"Benstokes aaram se nahi khel sakta kya?" Virat exclaimed standing up, and cussing to a Rohit who obviously couldn't hear him.

"Sit down cheeku, let him vent it out." Rahul bhai said pulling him down, a knowing expression on his face.

"You saw us earlier in the dressing room." Virt commented after Rohit had completed his unreal century.

It wasn't a question still Rahul bhai nodded his head, "You told Ro that you are proud of him, let me tell you we all are proud of you too." He said patting his back and going inside.

Virat looked at Jassi who was keenly watching Rohit bat, "Yes we are going to miss him alot. Mostly you and Ro bhaiya." Jassi said still watching ahead.

Unfortunately Rohit got out at 92 but everyone applauded him for the unreal innings.

Virat followed Rohit inside the dressing room and hugged Rohit.

"Vi I am sweaty." Rohit said trying to push Virat away.

"I don't care. You did so well!" Virat exclaimed happily hugging Rohit tighter.

Rohit also hugged him back and when they pulled away Rohit said, "I thought I wouldn't care if we win this world cup, but no Vi we have to win this at any cost."

"Yes we will, E sala cup naamde." Virat said laughing and Rohit smacked him.

"Shut up we won't win anything with that slogan." Rohit said jokingly and then they again started bickering back forth.

The team was watching them and Rahul bhai sighed, "It was good while it lasted, disperse boys." He said shaking his head fondly at the boys who had come to become his kids.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ind vs Eng
After match

Virat ran upto Rohit after spotting one poster in the stand, "Ro look at the poster, Sharma serves karma." He said.

Rohit looked at it and laughed, "Yeah they really love us." He said and that thought made him even more happy.

He was sitting on the chair while everyone was going inside, tears in his eyes.

Last time they had lost by 10 wickets and this time they had bowled them all out.

Virat came upto him and mumbled, "Just one more push Ro we can do this!" He said as he patted on Rohit's back before going inside.

Seeing Virat inside without Rohit, Hardik asked, "Why are you not sticking to Ro like always?"

Virat shook his head sighing, "We can't be doing that in the public, our rift rumours-" He started but was cut off my several sounds of disapproval from his teammates.

"Bhaiya no one believes in that." Jassi said shaking his head.

"Yeah now people believe me and him have rift not you two." Hardik said trying to make light of it. But his sadness came through.

Just then Rohit came inside and was attacked by everyone for a group hug.

"Great now, me who should have the maximum right to his time is the last one to meet him." Virat mumbled.

He looked besides him whem Ritika cleared her throat, "What? You knew this before you guys even started dating." Virat said defending himself.

"Obviously who am I even, just his wife." Ritika said laughing.

Rohit looked past all his teammates who were hugging him to see Ritika laughing and Virat pouting about something.

He looked around and his resolve to win the trophy strengthened more than ever, he didn't want the gloomy dressing room from that day again.

~~~~~~~~~

Post match presentation

"He has the intent and I am sure he's saving the best for the last." Rohit said and gave a big smile.

Virat groaned watching that, "He'll never listen to me, I told him not to defend me." He said to Anushka who was on video call.

"People would kill to have a best friend like my brother and look at you ungrateful man. NO ONE BELIEVES YOUR RIFT RUMOURS." Anushka yelled the last part.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Ind vs Sa

Virat had tried his best, after the collosal batting collapse with the help of Axar and Shivam.

But now the situation seemed grim, South Africa needed 30 runs of 30 balls.

There was complete silence in the stands as well in the dressing room. Everyone, from the fans to the players to the support staff was having flashbacks.

But Rohit held a silver of hope, in the team huddle he said, "I can't climb this mountain alone. If I have to reach the peak, I will need everyone's oxygen."

Everyone nodded, a newfound determination taking place in each one of their eyes.

Rohit gave the ball to Jassi and he did his magic and rattled Jansen's stumps.

This renewed a bit of hopes in the hearts of the spectators. Then Rohit gave the ball to Hardik.

He bowled the first ball of the over and Miller struck it hard. The ball going towards long off for a six.

"Is that a catch? Has Suryakumar Yadav pulled off the most stupendous catch at the most crucial of stages? This catch could go down in cricketing history as one of the greatest if SKY has managed to keep his foot off the ropes. The third umpire is called in and it is a very close call. What an effort and the conclusion is that SKY has managed to avoid the ropes and it will be adjudged OUT!" The commentators boom and Rohit jumps out of sheer joy.

Virat closes his eye looking up at the sky. They might have just pulled off the world cup.

Last ball is bowled and Nortje strikes it in the air but the bowl falls on the ground.

INDIA HAS WON THE T20 WC AFTER 17 YEARS ENDING THE 11 YEARS DROUGHT OF AN ICC TROPHY.

Rohit's knees give up and he collapses on the floor, beating down on the ground, tears in his eyes.

Virat's eyes welled up, Hardik and Jassi sat down tears in their eyes. Screams and tears of happiness all around.

Virat and Rohit finally hugged, "We did it Vi! We finally did it! We won a trophy together after years." Rohit whispered his voice hoarse with tears.

Virat just patted his back overwhelmed with emotions. After a while when Virat was going up Rohit was waiting for him.

They hugged again and when Virat pulled away Rohit said, "Now no one's going to believe the Rift rumours, on the other hand us cheating on our wives, sure!" Rohit said laughing, tears still in his eyes.

Virat looked at him and laughed, "Sure, that's even better!" He said, tears in his eyes too.

A/N: I have put all of my soul into this oneshot. It felt like a part of my childhood ended and I really wanted to give way to those emotions.

The win was a bittersweet one because we lost three stalwarts, I'll definitely miss Rahul bhai and the way he took everyone under his wings.

And I am sure Sky will be a great captain but I'll forever miss Rohirat in that format.

Nonetheless I am so proud of them and will always love them <3