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Rohit Sharma targets T20 crown after ODI World Cup agony

The 19th of November, 2023, etched itself on Indian cricket fans’ hearts as a bittersweet memory. India, riding a magnificent ten-match winning streak, had stormed into the ODI World Cup final, dreams dancing in their eyes. However, on that fateful day, destiny took a different turn. Australia, led by the formidable Pat Cummins, rose to the occasion, clinching their sixth World Cup title and silencing the cheers at the Narendra Modi Stadium. While tears welled up in Indian eyes, the Aussies revelled in their hard-earned victory.

Captain Rohit Sharma bore the brunt of India’s World Cup heartbreak. With age ticking and whispers of “last chance” swirling, the weight of a nation’s hopes seemed etched on his shoulders. Despite his electrifying starts throughout the tournament, the golden trophy remained tantalizingly out of his reach. After the final, Sharma’s eyes, usually radiating with cricketing swagger, reflected a profound dejection. He retreated from the public eye for a few days, seeking solace in the quiet aftermath of the dream that slipped away.

Though the sting of defeat lingered, the relentless churn of cricket offers little time for mourning. The ODI World Cup may have been Rohit Sharma’s Everest, its peak shrouded in bittersweet disappointment, but another summit beckons: the T20 World Cup across the Atlantic.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t win but we have one more opportunity”

As such, Star Sports recently probed Rohit about the heartbreak and its aftermath. His voice, still tinged with the echo of that November night, acknowledged the collective grief for players and fans alike. But in the ever-turning wheel of the cricketing world, there lay another chance. The focus, Rohit declared, had shifted to the upcoming T20 World Cup.

“The 50-over World Cup is the biggest World Cup for me. It’s not that I don’t give importance to the T20 World Cup and the World Test Championships. But, we grew up watching the 50-over World Cup. And when it takes place in India, it’s a very big event. We tried. Unfortunately, we couldn’t win. The whole team was sad. I am sure all the fans were sad too. But we have one more opportunity now and we’ll focus on how to use that opportunity and win the World Cup,” he said.

Whether Rohit and Co. go on to lift the T20 prize or not remains to be seen but fans will hope for that to happen as it would be a tragedy if this great team, which has dominated cricket for such a long period, has to bow out without a major trophy.