Rohit Sharma: India is the powerhouse of world cricket right now
Synopsis
Nearly 20 years into his international career, Rohit Sharma isn't just looking back — he's setting a standard. At Mumbai Indians' ESA Day, he declared India the powerhouse of world cricket, backed it with a list of recent titles, and called for fearlessness to define the next generation. The message from a departing captain: the bar has been raised, and it must not drop.
Key Takeaways
Rohit Sharma declared India 'the powerhouse of world cricket' at Mumbai Indians' ESA Day event on 24 May .
He cited the 2024 World Cup , Women's World Cup , U19 World Cup , ICC Champions Trophy , and a T20 World Cup as proof of India's cricketing dominance over the last three years.
Rohit noted that T20 scoring benchmarks have shifted dramatically since his debut — a score of 130-140 that was once competitive is now considered inadequate.
He urged that children aged six to 18 be allowed to enjoy cricket without early performance pressure.
On captaincy, he said leading India and Mumbai Indians taught him to prioritise team results over personal milestones.
Former India captain Rohit Sharma declared on 24 May that Indian cricket is firmly on the right trajectory — in results, mindset, and structure — and that he wants the country to remain the dominant force in the global game. Speaking at Mumbai Indians' ESA Day event in Mumbai, the 39-year-old opener reflected on nearly two decades in international cricket and the remarkable rise of Indian cricket across formats and age groups.
India's Winning Streak Across Formats
Rohit pointed to a string of major titles as evidence of India's growing cricketing depth. 'I want India to be the powerhouse of world cricket…that is the bottom line as I want India to be the best and cricket is right up there. What we have done in the last three years has been superb to watch. From the 2024 World Cup, Women's World Cup, U19 World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy and another T20 World Cup. I hope we continue our winning streak,' he said.
The run of titles across age-group and senior tournaments, he argued, reflects a structural strengthening of Indian cricket rather than isolated peaks.
How the Game Has Changed Since His Debut
Rohit also spoke candidly about the dramatic evolution of batting, particularly in the shorter formats, since he made his international debut. 'When we started, 130-140 was a good score but currently it is difficult. Now, any score one gets does not seem to be very convincing. That is the story which tells you how the game has gone about through the years,' he said.
He attributed the transformation to a generational shift in mindset. 'People have become more fearless, open-minded on how they should go about doing things, which is a good sign for the sport, game and league. The players are not afraid to take a step forward rather than being conservative. In the coming years too, that is how it will keep going, it will reach greater heights,' Rohit added.
On Nurturing Young Cricketers
Turning to the next generation, Rohit stressed that young players must be allowed to enjoy the sport without the weight of premature expectations. 'You do not want to put too much pressure on the kid so early on in their life. They should just be enjoying the sport, watching and playing with their friends. That is how it all started for me…Enjoy the sport that you want to play. No one can force you to do something,' he said, addressing children ranging from six to 18 years of age.
Lessons from Captaincy and Career Setbacks
Rohit reflected on how both adversity and leadership reshaped his outlook. 'In sport, there is no smooth ride, along with upwards, there is also a downhill which teaches you many things,' he noted, describing the setbacks across his career as his most formative experiences.
On captaincy — both with India and Mumbai Indians — he said it forced him to subordinate personal milestones to team outcomes. 'When one is captain, it is a different story because you just do not have to worry about your performance. You also have to worry about others' performances as well. If you have hit a 100 and the others have not been able to perform and the side has lost the game then it is worrisome. It will not give you peace of mind until the results are showing,' he said.
As Indian cricket heads into a fresh cycle with new leadership, Rohit's words carry the weight of lived experience — and a clear standard he expects the team to uphold.
Point of View
And the team is mid-transition. His framing of the last three years as a golden run is accurate on trophies, but it also sets a high baseline that his successors must now maintain. The more instructive thread is his point on fearlessness: Indian cricket's recent surge has been as much a cultural shift as a tactical one, and sustaining it requires the system — selectors, coaches, franchise academies — to protect that mindset rather than revert to conservative orthodoxy when results wobble. The warning embedded in his praise is easy to miss.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Rohit Sharma say about India's position in world cricket?
Rohit Sharma said he wants India to be the powerhouse of world cricket and that it is 'right up there' currently. He backed the claim by pointing to titles across the 2024 World Cup, Women's World Cup, U19 World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, and a T20 World Cup over the last three years.
Where did Rohit Sharma make these remarks?
Rohit made these remarks at Mumbai Indians' ESA Day event in Mumbai on 24 May. The event brought together players and young cricketers associated with the franchise.
What did Rohit Sharma say about the evolution of T20 batting?
Rohit said that when he began his career, a score of 130-140 was considered competitive in T20 cricket, but that benchmark is now considered insufficient. He attributed the shift to players becoming more fearless and open-minded in their approach.
What advice did Rohit Sharma give to young cricketers?
Rohit urged that children between six and 18 years of age should not be burdened with pressure early in their cricketing journey. He said they should enjoy the sport freely, drawing on his own experience of starting the game without external expectations.
What did Rohit Sharma learn from captaining India and Mumbai Indians?
Rohit said captaincy taught him to place team goals above personal performance. He noted that scoring a century means little if the team loses, and that a captain cannot find peace of mind until the collective results are positive.
