Captain Rohit Sharma, for the first time, opened up about team India's heart-wrenching defeat in Cricket World Cup 2023 Final, expressing how challenging it was for him to recover from the disappointment of that significant night. Speaking to Mumbai Indians (MI), Rohit extended gratitude to his family and fans for their support in helping him overcome the devastating loss and refocus for his return to competitive cricket in the upcoming Test series in South Africa.
In a video uploaded on Instagram by Team Ro’s official handle, Rohit Sharma admitted feeling a sense of helplessness following India's loss to Australia in the World Cup final held in Ahmedabad on November 19. Rohit's struggle to contain emotions was evident as he fought back tears after the one-sided defeat.
Despite leading the team admirably and displaying exceptional performance throughout the tournament, Rohit fell short by a step in his quest to become the third Indian captain to lift the 50-over World Cup. India's dominant run in the tournament was marred by a lacklustre batting performance, barring Rohit's contributions, compounded by Travis Head's sensational century for Australia in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Reflecting on the aftermath of the final, Rohit Sharma shared his emotional struggle and the difficulty in moving on from such a momentous disappointment. He acknowledged the support of his family and friends for maintaining a positive environment around him, despite the adversity.
Watch below viral video of Rohit Sharma's exclusive interview with Mumbai Indians
“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. I have always grown up watching 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," Rohit Sharma said in the video.
Furthermore, Rohit Sharma shed light on his decision to skip the T20I series against Australia and the white-ball leg of the South Africa tour, citing the necessity for a break to recover from the World Cup final defeat and spend quality time with his family.
"I Am Really Proud Of The Team," Says Rohit
“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. After that final, it was very hard to get back, and I wanted to move on which is why I decided I needed to go somewhere and get my mind out of this. But then, wherever I was, I realised people were coming to me and appreciating our effort. I feel for all of them. Along with us, they were also dreaming of lifting the World Cup. There was so much support from everyone throughout the World Cup,” he added.