Rohit Sharma Reflects on Near Retirement After World Cup Loss
Rohit Sharma's Emotional Journey Post World Cup
Former captain of the Indian cricket team, Rohit Sharma, has publicly shared for the first time that he contemplated retirement from cricket following the defeat in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. He expressed that at that moment, he felt the sport had taken everything from him, leaving him with nothing to give.
Under Rohit's leadership, India showcased an impressive performance throughout the 2023 World Cup, winning nine consecutive matches on home soil to reach the final. However, in the title match held in Ahmedabad, Australia dashed India's hopes, with Travis Head's century dramatically shifting the game's momentum, leaving a painful memory for Indian cricket fans.
During an event on December 21, Rohit revealed that he was completely shattered after the final. He admitted that he had lost all desire to play cricket at that time. He noted that he had dedicated himself entirely to the World Cup, not just after becoming captain but even before, which made the loss profoundly impactful.
Rohit also mentioned that it took him time to recover from that disappointment. Gradually, he reminded himself that cricket was his greatest passion. Over time, his energy returned, and he found himself back on the field.
He acknowledged that the entire team was in shock from the defeat, and no one could comprehend how it had happened. Personally, it was the toughest phase of his career, as his sole aim since taking over the captaincy in 2022 had been to win the World Cup.
It is noteworthy that Rohit Sharma has already retired from T20 internationals and Test cricket, and he was also removed from the ODI captaincy earlier this year. Nevertheless, he continues to play in the 50-over format and hopes for one last opportunity in the 2027 World Cup to conclude his career on a high note.
Remarkably, within a year of that loss in 2023, Rohit led the Indian team to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup held in the USA and West Indies. However, he acknowledged that overcoming the pain from November 2023 was not easy and took several months.
He stated that when a player invests everything into a goal and fails to achieve it, such reactions are natural. Yet, he also realized that life does not end there. That period taught him how to cope with disappointment, reset himself, and start anew.
According to Rohit Sharma, it was not easy to think positively during that time, but he was aware that the 2024 T20 World Cup was approaching, and he needed to focus all his energy on it, which provided him the strength to move forward.