Rohit Sharma Bares His Soul on World Cup Triumph, Career Longevity, and Nerves

Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian cricket team, has opened up about the immense pressure and emotions surrounding the T20 World Cup victory in 2024. The win ended an 11-year drought for India in ICC tournaments, marking a significant moment in his career.

Sharma, in an exclusive interview on JioHotstar’s show Champions Waali Feeling Phir Se, shared his feelings about the victory. "Thirteen years is a long time. Most people don’t even have a 13-year career. So, to wait that long to win a World Cup… the last one I won was in 2007," he said, highlighting the significance of the win.

He further revealed the intense emotions he experienced, saying, "For me, it couldn't have gotten any bigger than this. I didn’t sleep the whole night. I was only thinking about the World Cup. I was nervous. I couldn’t feel my legs. Did I feel nerves? Of course. I just don’t show it—but inside, it was a lot."

Recalling the morning of the final match, Sharma described his anticipation and anxiety. "We were supposed to leave around 8:30 or 9 in the morning. But I woke up at 7. From my room, I could see the ground and just kept watching it. I remember thinking—‘In two hours, I’ll be there. And in four hours, the result will be out. Either the Cup will be here or it won’t.’”

The T20 World Cup also marked the farewell of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the T20 format.

Sharma's performance throughout the tournament was remarkable. He scored 257 runs in eight innings, including three half-centuries, with an average of 36.71 and a strike rate exceeding 155. He emerged as the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament, demonstrating his value to the team.