‘We’re trying everything we can to make sure we’re ready for the WC’- Rohit Sharma on wanting to win the 2023 ODI World Cup

The all-format captain of the Indian cricket team Rohit Sharma recently got in an exclusive conversation with the ICC as he posed with the prestigious ODI World Cup 2023 trophy ahead of the tournament commencement on 5 October 2023. 

The marquee tournament will be hosted by India after 12 long years. The Indian Cricket Team fans are highly anticipated to see the national side lift the trophy once again in their home ground after 2011. Rohit Sharma openly expressed how he regrets not being a part of the 2011 World Cup winning squad, while he hopes to lift it again in India. He also recalls the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups where India lost the crucial semi-final knockout matches. 

Rohit also expressed his gratitude towards the fans who always show an abundance of support to the Indian Cricket team. The team performed exceedingly well in the T20I World Cup 2016 which was hosted in India, but unfortunately lost the game to West Indies in the semifinals. After six years, India is again opening a tournament while being in the hope to lift the trophy. 

Rohit Sharma on winning the ODI World Cup 2023

“I’ve never seen it so close. Even when we won in 2011, I was not part of the squad. But yeah, it looks beautiful, so many memories behind the trophy as well, the past, the history. Yeah, so, it looks beautiful and hopefully we can lift it, fingers crossed” told Rohit Sharma to ICC. 

“In 2015 and 2019, I was a part of it, which felt really good to play the World Cup. We went to the semi-finals and tried everything we could to go to the finals and play well in the finals, but again, a very unfortunate incident where we couldn’t go through to the finals. But hopefully, you know, we are back home again, so hopefully we can turn things around and there’s still a long way to go. And you know you can’t win the World Cup in one or two days. You got to play well for an entire month, month and a half, and be consistent. So you know, we are trying everything we can, from our perspective, to make sure we are ready for the World Cup,” added Sharma. 

“I know for a fact that every ground, every venue that we will be travelling to will get massive support. You know, it’s the World Cup, so everyone is looking forward to this and the World Cup coming back to India after 12 years… you know 2011 was the last time we played a 50-over World Cup. We played a 20-over World Cup in 2016 but a 50-over World Cup after 12 years in the country, people are quite excited and we can see the buzz already back home. I’ll be looking forward to playing in all venues. They all have their own charm and speciality, so I would like to embrace that.” added Rohit Sharma.