New Delhi: Former India captain Rohit Sharma has revealed that he seriously considered retiring from international cricket following India’s defeat to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, describing the period as one of the most emotionally draining phases of his career. Speaking at a public event, Rohit said the heartbreak left him feeling completely exhausted, both mentally and physically.
India had enjoyed a dominant run during the home World Cup, winning nine matches in a row to reach the final. However, the campaign ended in disappointment after Australia clinched the title, with Travis Head’s century proving decisive. Rohit said the loss was devastating because of the immense effort he had invested into the tournament over an extended period.
He explained that after the final, he felt the sport had taken everything out of him and that he had nothing left to give. The disappointment, he said, was not limited to the weeks of the tournament but stemmed from the responsibility he had carried since taking over the captaincy in 2022. The emotional impact was so severe that he briefly felt like stepping away from the game entirely.
Rohit added that recovery did not happen overnight. It took several months for him to regain motivation and energy. During that time, he reminded himself of his love for the game and the joy it had brought him throughout his career. Gradually, he found his way back, both mentally and on the field.
He acknowledged that disappointment of such magnitude is a natural response when expectations are high and outcomes fall short. However, he said the experience taught him valuable lessons about coping with failure, resetting goals and moving forward with renewed focus.
Less than a year after the World Cup final setback, Rohit captained India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, a triumph that helped him overcome the lingering pain of the earlier defeat. Despite retiring from T20 internationals and Test cricket and being removed from the ODI captaincy, Rohit continues to play the 50 over format.
He has expressed a desire to extend his career with one final goal in mind, making a last attempt at winning the ODI World Cup in 2027 and ending his journey on his own terms.
Former India captain reveals emotional toll of final defeat and why he chose to continue in ODI cricket
New Delhi: Former India captain Rohit Sharma has revealed that he seriously considered retiring from international cricket following India’s defeat to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, describing the period as one of the most emotionally draining phases of his career. Speaking at a public event, Rohit said the heartbreak left him feeling completely exhausted, both mentally and physically.
India had enjoyed a dominant run during the home World Cup, winning nine matches in a row to reach the final. However, the campaign ended in disappointment after Australia clinched the title, with Travis Head’s century proving decisive. Rohit said the loss was devastating because of the immense effort he had invested into the tournament over an extended period.
He explained that after the final, he felt the sport had taken everything out of him and that he had nothing left to give. The disappointment, he said, was not limited to the weeks of the tournament but stemmed from the responsibility he had carried since taking over the captaincy in 2022. The emotional impact was so severe that he briefly felt like stepping away from the game entirely.
Rohit added that recovery did not happen overnight. It took several months for him to regain motivation and energy. During that time, he reminded himself of his love for the game and the joy it had brought him throughout his career. Gradually, he found his way back, both mentally and on the field.
He acknowledged that disappointment of such magnitude is a natural response when expectations are high and outcomes fall short. However, he said the experience taught him valuable lessons about coping with failure, resetting goals and moving forward with renewed focus.
Less than a year after the World Cup final setback, Rohit captained India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, a triumph that helped him overcome the lingering pain of the earlier defeat. Despite retiring from T20 internationals and Test cricket and being removed from the ODI captaincy, Rohit continues to play the 50 over format.
He has expressed a desire to extend his career with one final goal in mind, making a last attempt at winning the ODI World Cup in 2027 and ending his journey on his own terms.
