Rohit Sharma Champions India's White-Ball Resilience
Following a period of unprecedented success in international cricket, Indian captain Rohit Sharma has voiced his admiration for the nation’s limited-overs teams, specifically highlighting their extraordinary performance in recent ICC white-ball events. Sharma’s comments underscore the dedication and perseverance of the players, emphasizing the significance of their achievements despite facing challenges.
A Stellar Run of Form
Under Rohit Sharma's leadership, India has reached the finals of the last three ICC white-ball tournaments – the 2023 ODI World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup, and the Champions Trophy. While India suffered a defeat in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, they secured victories in the subsequent two global tournaments, showcasing their dominance in the format. Notably, the team has lost just one match out of 24 across these three ICC events – a testament to their consistency and skill.
Acknowledging the Journey
“Look at what this team has achieved in these big three tournaments,' Sharma stated in a video shared by Mumbai Indians. 'After playing the tournament like that and getting defeated only once, and that too in a final. Imagine if we had won that as well - to go undefeated in three ICC tournaments is crazy. Never heard of it, but I’ll take this. 23 wins in 24 games is unheard of.”
Sharma acknowledged the difficulties faced along the way. “It looks very nice from the outside, but the team has gone through a lot of ups and downs. We had some really tough times as well, but that is when you got to celebrate. I feel all the people who played these three tournaments deserve respect.”
Foundation Laid in 2022
Sharma pointed to the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia as the starting point for this remarkable run, despite India’s semifinal defeat to England. “It started literally way back in 2022 when we played that World Cup in Australia. Although we didn’t go on to win the finals or qualify for the finals, we lost the semis. But thereafter, I think we made a lot of things very clear with the players that this is what we expect from you and this is how we want you to play.”
He emphasized the importance of player freedom and clear communication. “There was a lot of clarity, a lot of conversations with the players. To perform, there needs to be a lot of freedom amongst the group so that they can go and play without any fear. There were a few lows, a few series that we lost, but we never panicked, and we never went away from our thought process.”
Building a Winning Squad
Sharma outlined his approach to squad building, focusing on identifying team needs and addressing shortcomings. “When you’re building a squad, when you’re making a squad, the first thing that you need to put in front of you is what does the team want? Where did we lack in the previous series, previous tournaments? Why did we not get the result? Those are the questions that you need to answer, and we are always trying to find answers for those questions.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What tournaments has India reached the finals of under Rohit Sharma's captaincy? India has reached the finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup, 2024 T20 World Cup, and the Champions Trophy.
- What is India's win-loss record in these three ICC events? India has a record of 23 wins and 1 loss in 24 matches.
- When did India’s remarkable run begin? Rohit Sharma attributes the foundation of this run to the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.
- What is the key to building a successful squad, according to Rohit Sharma? Identifying team needs and consistently addressing shortcomings is crucial.