India's cricket captain, Rohit Sharma, has opened up in his first interview following India's defeat in the ODI World Cup final 2023. Despite leading the Men in Blue to a record-breaking run in the tournament, the team fell short in the final on November 21. Rohit has candidly shared his thoughts on that painful night in Ahmedabad and has hinted at his potential participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Having not played for India in T20Is since the T20 World Cup 2022 and opting for a break even in the recent T20I series against South Africa, many anticipate Rohit's return to the shortest format with another World Cup on the horizon. The Indian captain has dropped a significant hint regarding his potential return.
Rohit expressed gratitude for the love and support shown by fans, acknowledging its healing effect on him. "For me to see people coming up to me, telling me that they were proud of the team, made me feel good. Along with them, I was healing as well. I felt, okay, these are the kind of things you want to hear," Rohit said. He emphasized the significance of understanding the emotional journey of players and the impact of positive support from fans. "It gives you motivation to get back and start working again and look for another ultimate prize," the 36-year-old added.
Reflecting on the aftermath of the loss, Rohit shared the emotional struggle he faced. "I had no idea how to come back from this. I had no clue what to do. My family and friends kept me going and kept things pretty light around me, which was quite helpful. It was not easy to digest, but life moves on, and you have to move on. Honestly, it was tough and it was not so easy to move on," he revealed.
Rohit also expressed his disappointment at not achieving the ultimate prize of winning the 50-over World Cup, a tournament he has always held in high regard. "I have always grown up watching the 50-over World Cup. To me, that was the ultimate prize. We have worked all these years for that World Cup. And it's disappointing if you don't get through it, you don't get what you want. You get disappointed. You get frustrated as well," he shared.
Despite the heartbreak, Rohit expressed pride in the team's performance throughout the tournament, acknowledging the joy it brought to countless Indian fans. "If I look on the other side of it, I am really proud of the team. How we played was simply outstanding. You don't get to play like that in every World Cup. I am sure that how we played at least up until the final, it would have given people a lot of joy," he added.
Rohit took some time off from the sport to recover from the loss and appreciated the widespread support and appreciation for the team's efforts. "I feel for all of them. They all, along with us, were dreaming of lifting the World Cup," he expressed. While acknowledging the love and support received throughout the World Cup campaign, Rohit also expressed a desire to shift his focus away from the disappointment of the loss. "If I think more and more on that, I feel disappointed that we were not able to go through all the way," he shared.
Rohit expressed his gratitude for the fans' restraint in not venting their frustration and anger on the team after the loss, emphasizing how this support has motivated him for the next "ultimate" prize.