At the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, India were at their dominant best, remaining unbeaten throughout the league stage and knockout rounds. However, despite an extraordinary campaign, India lost to Australia in the final in Ahmedabad, which left scars deep enough for the former ODI captain Rohit Sharma to briefly question his future in the format. India, who went into the final unbeaten, were the tournament favourites but the final proved cruel, with Australia pulling off a commanding win. Recently, Rohit revealed that the disappointment was so overwhelming that he contemplated retirement
"Everybody was so disappointed, and we just couldn’t believe what had happened. Honestly, It was a very tough time for me personally because I had really put everything into that World Cup not just two or three months before the World Cup, but ever since I took over the captaincy in 2022," Rohit said during a Masters Union event
"My only goal was to win the World Cup, whether it was the T20 World Cup or the 2023 World Cup. So, I was completely distraught. There was no energy left in my body. It took me a couple of months to get back to being myself," said Rohit.
Rohit himself was at the centre of India's flawless campaign, delivering commanding performances. He blasted 597 runs in 11 matches, averaging 54.27 with a remarkable strike rate of 125.94
"I guess when you put so much into something and then you don’t get the result, that's a very natural thing to happen to an individual. And that’s something that happened to me. It was a tough pill to swallow, but I knew life doesn’t end here. And it was a lesson for me: ‘How can I leave this disappointment behind and start something fresh?’ because life doesn't end there."
Rohit emphasised that he gradually processed through that difficult period and shifted his focus to the T20 World Cup 2024.
"I knew there was something else coming up, the T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies, and I had to put all my focus there. It’s very easy to say for me right now, but it was very difficult to do it at that time. At one point, I literally thought that I don’t want to play this sport anymore because it has taken everything out of my body, and I don’t have anything left in me," he said.
“It took me a little while to get back because I kept reminding myself that this is something that I love and dreamt of. It is right there in front of me, and I cannot let it go so easily. It took a little bit of time and a lot of energy to get back on the field and start moving again," Rohit said.