(Image source from: Aninews.in)
In an unexpected confession, former captain of India, Rohit Sharma, mentioned on Sunday that he thought about quitting after the painful defeat against Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, stating that he "felt like the game had exhausted me completely." Under Rohit’s leadership, the Indian team had a fantastic journey in that home tournament, winning nine matches in a row to reach the final. Unfortunately, Australia shattered their dreams in the crucial match, with Travis Head securing a decisive hundred. "Following the 2023 World Cup final, I was utterly heartbroken and thought I didn't want to be part of this sport anymore, as it had taken everything from me, and I felt completely drained," Rohit expressed at a Masters Union event. "It took a while, and I kept reminding myself that I genuinely love this game, that it was right in front of me, and I shouldn't give up so easily. Gradually, I found my way back, regaining my motivation and getting back into action on the field."
"Everyone was very upset, and we just couldn't comprehend what had occurred. I found this to be a challenging time for me personally, as I had dedicated everything to that World Cup not just in the last two or three months but since I became captain in 2022," he continued. Rohit, who stepped down from T20 and Test formats and was also removed as ODI captain earlier this year, still plays in the 50-over format and aims to finish his career with one last try at the 2027 World Cup. "My sole aim was to win the World Cup, whether it was the T20 World Cup or the 2023 World Cup. So when that didn’t happen, I felt completely crushed. There was no strength left in my body. It took me a couple of months to bounce back and recover," stated Rohit.
Less than a year after losing to Australia in Ahmedabad, Rohit guided the Indian team to the T20 World Cup title in the Americas, but moving past the hurt of the November 2023 loss was very challenging. "I guess when you put so much effort into something and don’t get the outcome, it’s a normal reaction. That’s precisely what happened to me. But I also understood that life goes on. It was a significant lesson for me on how to handle disappointment, reset myself, and begin anew. I realized that something else was ahead, the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, and I needed to focus entirely on that. "It’s easy to say this now, but at that time, it was incredibly tough," Rohit acknowledged.
(Video Source: Updatemanda)
