Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma praised the contributions of former head coach Rahul Dravid, selection panel chief Ajit Agarkar, and BCCI secretary Jay Shah, calling them the key figures behind the team’s recent victory in the T20 World Cup, as well as their strong performances in other cricket formats.
During an event in Mumbai where he was awarded the Men’s International Cricketer of the Year, Rohit expressed, “My goal was to change this team, not to focus too much on statistics or outcomes, but to ensure we build an atmosphere where players can perform without overthinking.”
“That’s exactly what I needed. I received a lot of support from my three main supporters, who are Mr. Jay Shah, Mr. Rahul Dravid, and the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar. Their help was crucial for me to accomplish what I did, and I also can’t forget the players who joined at various times and contributed to our team’s success,” he said.
With Rohit as captain, the Indian team nearly won the 2023 ODI World Cup but missed out after losing to Australia in the final match.
They had also been near winning the World Test Championship final but lost to Australia.
But in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa, Rohit managed to get the best out of his team, and they finally won, ending their 11-year wait for an ICC title.
“It’s a feeling that doesn’t happen every day. We really wanted it. When we won the World Cup, it was important for us to enjoy the moment, which we did, and we’re grateful to our country for celebrating with us,” he said.
“It was important for us, but it also meant a lot to the whole country. It was amazing to bring the trophy back here and celebrate with everyone. It’s an incredible feeling that words can’t describe. I don’t think there’s a way to fully express it. It wouldn’t capture the impact of everything that happened,” he added.
Rohit, who has retired from T20 matches, still wants to win more and will now focus on success in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Test matches.
“We have some tough tours ahead, which will be challenging. For us, there’s always more to achieve. After reaching one goal, you always aim for the next. That’s what I’ll be doing. I’m sure my teammates are thinking the same way. Over the past two years in Indian cricket, there’s been a lot of excitement and some really good cricket being played,” he said.
India is getting ready for a two-game Test series with Bangladesh and then a three-game Test series with New Zealand. The big event this year is their trip to Australia, where they aim to keep the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
