Rohit Sharma Reflects on India’s Evolution from 2023 Final to 2025 Triumphs
In his first public remarks since stepping down as India’s ODI captain, Rohit Sharma invited cricket fans to look back at a journey that fused heartbreak with hard-won triumphs. Speaking at the CEAT Cricket Rating awards in Mumbai, the veteran opener recalled how India navigated the sting of the 2023 ODI World Cup final and then built a winning mindset that yielded back-to-back ICC titles, including the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Acknowledging the Foundations: Rahul Dravid and a Shared Vision
Rohit credited former head coach Rahul Dravid for shaping a culture of belief and accountability. He underscored that the transformation was not the product of a single year but the culmination of sustained work and a shift in collective thinking. “Look, I love that team, loved playing with them, and it’s a journey that we were all into for many years,” Rohit said. “It’s not about one year or two years of work. It was about getting into work from many years.”
He emphasized that progress required every player to buy into a common plan. “There’s always a thought of doing that and then actually going and doing that. It cannot be done by one or two players. We needed everyone to buy into that thought, which was good from everyone,” Rohit explained. The sentiment reflected a broader philosophy that Dravid and Rohit anchored: a mindset that could turn near-misses into consistent winners.
From World Cup Final Heartbreak to Consistent ICC Success
The moment of truth came after the 2023 World Cup heartbreak, a turning point Rohit described as a catalyst for change. The team resolved to reframe what it meant to come close and then cross the finish line. Rohit highlighted a culture where the process mattered just as much as the result. “All the guys who took part in that competition got into that thought process of how to win games and how to challenge ourselves and not be complacent or take anything for granted,” he noted. This approach, he suggested, became the backbone of India’s dominance across formats.
Consistency, Unity, and the Power of a Shared Method
Rohit pointed to the consistency and unity within the squad as their strongest asset. He described a team that treated every match as a fresh challenge rather than a chance to replicate past performances. “Once we got over the line when we won the first game, we completely put that game aside and then started focusing on the next one,” he said. This pragmatic mindset helped the team sustain momentum through sequences of high-pressure series and tournaments.
As the sport evolves, Rohit’s reflections highlight how leadership transitions—such as Gautam Gambhir taking over coaching duties ahead of the Champions Trophy—did not derail the core philosophy. “In 2023, although we didn’t cross the line in the finals, we set out to do something as a team and everyone did that,” he remarked, stressing that the blueprint remained intact even as coaching staff shifted.
The Road Ahead: Still Part of the Indian Setup
With Rohit stepping aside from ODI and Test captaincy in favor of Shubman Gill, the leadership baton remains with a younger generation while the veteran remains an integral part of the squad. Rohit is set to travel with captain Virat Kohli for India’s three-match ODI series in Australia starting October 19, signaling continuity in a team that prizes experience but also welcomes fresh leadership. The CEAT awards stage offered Rohit an opportunity to crystallize the narrative: India’s recent success is less about individual moments and more about an enduring ethos that values belief, teamwork, and relentless pursuit of improvement.
Bottom Line: A Winning Mindset Born of Collective Belief
Rohit’s remarks paint a picture of a team that learned, adapted, and refused to rest on past laurels. From the heartbreak of the 2023 World Cup final to back-to-back ICC titles, India’s journey underscores the power of a shared method, underpinned by Rahul Dravid’s guidance and the players’ unwavering conviction. The road ahead looks bright for a squad that has proven it can convert near-misses into sustained success and set a standard for international cricket.
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