Picture Credit: X/Mumbai Indians
The Rohit Sharma-led Team India suffered a heartbreaking loss in the ODI World Cup 2023 final despite entering the ultimate title clash on a 10-match unbeaten streak. Now, for the first time since the ODI World Cup final loss, skipper Rohit Sharma has opened up on this painful defeat in Ahmedabad.
The 36-year-old, who has stayed away from social media and even opted to miss the white-ball leg against Australia and South Africa. He has now opened up for the first time, in a video shared by his IPL franchise Mumbai Indians. In what seems to be an emotional chat, Rohit Sharma admitted that he wasn’t sure on how to overcome this heartbreak and considered that his family and friends just helped him overcome it, “keeping things light”.
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“I had no idea how to come back from this the first few days. I don’t know what to do. You know, my family, my friends kept me going, kept things pretty light around me, which was quite helpful. It wasn’t easy to digest, but yeah, life moves on. You have to move on in life. But honestly, it was tough,” Rohit Sharma said in the video.
He further added that the team, comprising of all members, have worked for it and at the end it was disappointing. Extending the support from all, especially his teammates, Rohit said, “If you look at the other side, I am really proud of the team as well because how we played was simply outstanding. You don’t get to perform like that every World Cup.”
Getting emotional recalling the final, he added that wining it would give a lot of joy and pride watching the team play after the finals but “it was very hard to get back and start moving, which is why I decided that I need to go somewhere and just get my mind out of this.”
Talking about the response he got from the people he met after this loss, he said, “It was pure love from the people that I met and it was wonderful to see that. So you know it gives you motivation to get back and start working again and look for another ultimate prize.”
Notably, the 36-year-old will return to the cricket field for the two-match Test series against South Africa, set to be played from December 26 with the first Test in Centurion, followed by the second at Newlands in Cape Town.
