Former Indian captain Rohit Sharma He spoke candidly about the emotional aftermath of India’s crushing defeat to Australia in the final of the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup, revealing that the loss left him mentally exhausted and questioning his future in the sport.
Speaking at the Masters’ Union event, Rohit admitted that the disappointment of the final took longer than expected and described it as one of the toughest phases of his cricketing life.
Rohit reveals the depth of personal devastation
Speaking about his state of mind after the final, Rohit said the emotional toll was overwhelming.
“After the 2023 World Cup final, I was completely devastated and felt like I didn’t want to do this sport anymore because it took everything away from me.” he said. “I felt like I had nothing left.”
Rohit explained that the feeling of emptiness did not disappear overnight. He needed time away from the emotional highs of the tournament to reconnect with his love of cricket and remind himself why he started playing the game in the first place.
Slowly, through reflection and self-motivation, he began to rediscover his energy and drive. “I kept telling myself, this is something I really love and I can’t let it go easily.” he added.
A loss that stunned the host nation
India’s campaign in the 2023 ODI World Cup has been nothing short of dominant. Under Rohit’s leadership, the team created one of the most consistent runs in World Cup history by winning every match leading up to the final.
However, the final in Ahmedabad was heartbreaking. Despite Australia losing three early wickets, India prevailed as the visitors chased down the target comfortably to seal a six-wicket victory. The defeat stunned fans across the country, turning a month of celebration into collective disbelief.
“Everyone was very disappointed” Rohit said. “We couldn’t believe what happened.”
The World Cup dream consumed Rohit’s leadership tenure
Rohit admitted that the loss hurt as the World Cup was his special focus after taking over the captaincy in 2022. Be it the T20 World Cup or the ODI World Cup, his goal was clear – to lift the global trophy for India.
“I put everything into this World Cup, not just months ago, but since I became captain” he said. “When that didn’t happen, I was completely destroyed. I had no energy left in my body.”
The former opener admitted that it took him a few months to recover mentally, regain motivation and be ready to return to the field with purpose.
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India makes a triumphant comeback under Rohit in T20 World Cup 2024
And Rohit’s story did not end in despair. India responded to the heartbreak of 2023 with resilience and carried on Win the ICC T20 2024 World Cup under his captaincy.
The title triumph served as a redemption not only for the team but for Rohit personally. It validated his persistence through doubt and emotional exhaustion, strengthening his belief in persistence and long-term vision.
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