Is 13 years a long time? Rohit Sharma reminisces about T20 WC triumph!

New Delhi, June 29 (NationPress) A year has flown by since India triumphed over South Africa by seven runs to claim the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and Rohit Sharma, the captain who led the team to this prestigious victory in Barbados, described the experience as surreal to be celebrated as the champions of such a coveted trophy.

Rohit, who was part of the victorious 2007 Men’s T20 World Cup squad in South Africa, reflected on the long wait since India’s last major title win in 2013. The team faced numerous near-misses until that remarkable day in Barbados, where Rohit and his teammates ended the trophy drought with an undefeated run throughout the tournament.

“Barbados will always be etched in my memory. This is the pinnacle of my cricketing journey. Lifting that trophy and being named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Champions was beyond belief. I participated in the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup, winning under MS Dhoni’s leadership, and winning again under Rahul Dravid as head coach was incredibly significant for our team,” Rohit shared with JioHotstar.

He recounted the anxiety that gripped him before the final match, which also marked his last T20I game for India, admitting that he struggled to sleep the night prior and was filled with nervous energy.

“Thirteen years is a considerable span. Many don't even have a career that lasts this long. To wait so long for another World Cup victory—the last one I celebrated was in 2007. The stakes couldn’t be higher. I was restless all night, consumed by thoughts of the World Cup. I felt nervous and couldn’t even sense my legs. Did nerves affect me? Absolutely,” he confessed.

“I kept an eye on the ground from my room, thinking, ‘In two hours, I’ll be on that pitch, and in four hours, we’ll know if the Cup will be ours.’”

With the bat in hand, India set a target of 176/7, largely due to Virat Kohli’s pivotal 76 and his 72-run partnership with Axar Patel in the final match. “When you hit three boundaries in the first over, you know you’re off to a great start. That’s what every player hopes for; it eases the nerves. My years of experience playing for India certainly help in such high-pressure moments,” Rohit said.

“You learn to reign in your emotions, manage your thoughts, and focus on the present. I’m sure Virat was similarly thinking, ‘Today is the day I need to concentrate and not dwell on the past.’ His performance was exceptional, and he formed a crucial partnership with Axar Patel,” Rohit added.

He concluded by acknowledging the initial panic when early wickets fell, but he maintained confidence in the lower order's ability to perform. “Losing those three early wickets certainly stirred anxiety within the dressing room. I was on edge, thinking, ‘We’ve let them back into the game.’ However, I had faith in our lower middle order—positions 5, 6, 7, and 8,” he shared.

“They hadn't had many chances to bat throughout the tournament, but when they did, they made an impact. That trust in them propelled me. Not enough is said about Axar’s innings, but scoring 47 off 31 balls at that critical moment was vital. We needed someone to stabilize the innings, and Virat executed that role flawlessly, which allowed Shivam, Axar, and Hardik to play freely, and that’s precisely what they did,” Rohit concluded.