In a shocking and heartfelt confession, ex-India captain Rohit Sharma revealed that he considered quitting cricket entirely following India’s heavy defeat to Australia in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup held in Ahmedabad.
Addressing an event at Masters’ Union on Sunday, Rohit revealed the emotional impact of the loss, recounting a time when the sport he cherished seemed to have “taken everything” from him.
“I Had Nothing Left”: Rohit Sharma’s Raw Admission After India’s World Cup Final Defeat
“Following the 2023 World Cup final, I was utterly devastated and felt like I no longer wanted to continue in this sport since it had drained me completely, leaving me with nothing,” Rohit stated.
Under Rohit’s captaincy, India experienced an almost flawless run at home, advancing to the final with ten consecutive victories. However, in the game that was the most significant, Australia carried out their strategies flawlessly. Following India’s limitation to 240 runs, Travis Head’s century propelled the Pat Cummins-led team to a six-wicket win, rendering the stunned Narendra Modi Stadium silent.
Rohit mentioned that the suffering was intensified by the significant emotional commitment he had invested since becoming captain in 2022.
“Everyone was very upset, and we simply couldn’t comprehend what had occurred.” It was an incredibly challenging period for me personally as I had invested everything into that World Cup — not just in the two or three months leading up to it, but ever since I took on the role of captain.
The 38-year-old acknowledged that it required months to heal mentally. I had no energy remaining in my body. “It took me some months to heal and get back to myself,” he stated, noting that introspection and a reminder of his passion for the game guided him in returning.
That resilience would shortly characterize the upcoming chapter. Fewer than twelve months following the heartbreak in Ahmedabad, Rohit guided India to victory in the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, a success he termed a lesson in recovery after setbacks.
“I understood that life continues beyond that point.” “It was a significant lesson — learning to handle disappointment, reset, and begin anew,” Rohit remarked. “It’s simple to state this now, but at that time, it was incredibly challenging.”
Although he has retired from Tests and T20Is and no longer leads the ODI team, Rohit remains active in the 50-over format, motivated by one final dream—securing World Cup glory in 2027.