Rohit Sharma warns of 3 pillars critical for T20 World Cup win
After winning the T20 World Cup title in June, Rohit Sharma admitted that his hunger to add more trophies to his list is still insatiable. India captain Rohit Sharma on Wednesday paid special tribute to the “three pillars” whom he called the real reason behind India’s success in winning the T20 World Cup title last month. However, Rohit issued a warning to world cricket, admitting that he is determined to repeat the same result in the Champions Trophy and World Test Championship final next year.
On June 29, Rohit Sharma became the first captain after MS Dhoni to lead India to a second T20 World Cup title in 17 years. It was also India’s first ICC trophy in 11 years and first world title in 13 years. On Wednesday, Rohit was named the men’s international cricketer of the year at the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai.
India’s successful comeback from home defeat
He credited former head coach Rahul Dravid, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and BCCI secretary Jay Shah for India’s successful comeback from home defeat in the 2023 ODI World Cup final and winning the T20 World Cup trophy. Rohit said, It was my dream to change this team and not worry too much about statistics, results, make sure that we create an environment where people can go out there and play freely without thinking too much.
I got a lot of help from my three pillars, which are actually Mr Jay Shah, Mr Rahul Dravid (and) chairman of selection committee Ajit Agarkar. It was very important for me to do what I did and obviously not to forget the players who came in at different times and helped the team achieve what we achieved.
There’s a reason I have won five IPL trophies
With India shifting their focus to ODI cricket for next year’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan and a third consecutive WTC final, both scheduled for 2025, Rohit admitted that his hunger to add more trophies to his cabinet is still insatiable.
There’s a reason I have won five IPL trophies. I am not going to stop, because once you get a taste of winning games, winning cups, you don’t want to stop and we will keep moving forward as a team. We will keep striving for better things in the future.
Preparations off to a worrying start
India got off to a worrying start with their preparations for the Champions Trophy suffering a humiliating 0-2 defeat against Sri Lanka earlier this year in what was new head coach Gautam Gambhir’s first assignment in the format. India will play their next and final ODI series before the ICC tournament in 2025 against England at home in the opening week of February.
India have a long schedule in Tests. Starting on September 19, the team will play 10 Tests – five Tests at home against Bangladesh (two matches) and New Zealand (three matches) and five Tests in Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series in December. If India, who are currently at the top of the table in the WTC, can continue their dominance at home by registering a 5-0 win in the series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, they will secure their place in the final, irrespective of their result against Australia.
Ends India’s decade-long drought in global tournaments
Rohit said that the feeling of winning the World Cup which ended India’s decade-long drought in global tournaments cannot be described in words. It was a feeling that cannot come everyday. It was something we were really expecting. When we won the World Cup, it was important for all of us to enjoy the moment, which we did very well and also thank our country for celebrating with us.
Despite leading Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles as captain, Rohit’s hunger to add more trophies to his cabinet is still insatiable. There is a reason I have won five IPL trophies. I am not going to stop, because once you get a taste of winning games, winning cups.
More success as ODI and Test leader with India
We have some solid tours coming up, which are quite challenging as well. For us, it never stops. Once you achieve something you always look forward to achieving more, so you don’t want to stop and we will keep moving forward as a team. We will keep striving for better things in the future.
Conclusion
Star batsman Rohit Sharma on Wednesday said former head coach Rahul Dravid, chairman of selection committee Ajit Agarkar and BCCI secretary Jay Shah supported him fully in his endeavour to get the best out of the players without worrying about the results, which resulted in India winning the T20 World Cup under his leadership.
India, led by Rohit, won this ICC showpiece in June, defeating South Africa in the final. It was their second T20 World title after 2007 and Rohit also ended his career in the shortest format with that win in Barbados.
