Rohit Sharma vows not to stop at five IPL trophies
India's T20 World Cup-winning captain, Rohit Sharma, has expressed his unwavering commitment to continue winning major trophies for the nation. This declaration comes after India's recent victory in the ICC T20 World Cup, where they defeated South Africa by seven runs in a nail-biting final. The triumph marked an end to India's 11-year wait for an ICC trophy and was their second T20 World Cup title.
Sharma's vision for Indian cricket team
At the CEAT Cricket Awards, Sharma shared his vision for the future of Indian cricket. He stated, "There is a reason I won five IPL trophies. I am not going to stop because once you get the taste of winning games, and winning Cups, you do not want to stop." He also highlighted upcoming challenges such as a tour to Australia for five Tests and potential participation in the ICC World Test Championship final next year.
Sharma's dream and gratitude toward his 'three pillars'
Sharma expressed his desire to shape the Indian team into a group that prioritizes performance over statistics. He extended his gratitude to his "three pillars," former head coach Rahul Dravid, BCCI secretary Jay Shah, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar for their support. He emphasized their roles were crucial in achieving what they did, and acknowledged the players who contributed at different times to help the team succeed.
Recap of India's T20 World Cup 2024 victory
In the final match of the T20 World Cup 2024, Virat Kohli (76), Hardik Pandya (3/20), and Jasprit Bumrah (2/18) were instrumental in India's seven-run win over South Africa. Kohli's impressive innings helped India set a target of 176/7 in 20 overs, while Bumrah and Pandya restricted South Africa to 169/8. This victory made Sharma the first captain since MS Dhoni to lead India to a T20 World Cup title win.
India's upcoming challenges and preparations
Despite a disappointing 0-2 loss against Sri Lanka earlier this year, India has begun its preparation for the Champions Trophy. The team's next and final ODI series before the ICC tournament will be against England at home in February 2025. In Tests, starting September 19, India will play five matches at home against Bangladesh (two matches) and New Zealand (three matches), followed by five in December in Australia.
