Reflecting on the lessons learned from India’s campaign at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup India 2023, Rohit outlined the standards he expects from the team ahead of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
File Photo: IANS
India’s T20 World Cup–winning captain Rohit Sharma has urged the defending champions to prioritise composure, conduct and mental discipline as they gear up to defend their title, stressing that the ability to block out external noise will be crucial in a high-pressure home tournament.
Reflecting on the lessons learned from India’s campaign at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup India 2023, Rohit outlined the standards he expects from the team ahead of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
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“I want the team to be seen as a very classy team. When you play on the ground, people should know that it’s the Indian team. So behave and carry yourself well on the ground. These were the things I was always very particular about and always spoke about before talking about field placements or what to do in batting, bowling, etc.,” Rohit said.
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He underlined the responsibility that comes with playing a World Cup at home, where scrutiny is relentless and expectations are magnified.
“I felt you have to carry yourself well because you’re playing a World Cup, you’re playing in India, everyone’s watching you and we need to be ambassadors for the country. So be the best version of yourself on the ground because you’re playing for a country that has such a rich legacy in this game. Performances, winning, losing — all of that will happen later. But most importantly, we need to carry ourselves well on the ground and then block the outside noise, create your own bubble. Nothing should come inside — no voices, nothing.”
Rohit also spoke candidly about the pressure of playing the World Cup in India in 2023, admitting that fear of public backlash following defeats weighed heavily on him.
“When we were playing the World Cup in 2023, my biggest fear was that if we lost a match and went to the airport, people would rip us apart,” he said on JioHotstar.
The team discussed various ways to shut out distractions, including limiting engagement with social media, though no blanket rule was imposed.
“We spoke about all of this — putting on headphones or whatever — but we had to keep the outside noise out. At one point, I even thought we should ask the boys to switch off from social media for the next two months. But it’s a very individualistic thing. I didn’t want to behave like a professor or a headmaster. Eventually, we didn’t do it.”
Rohit added that India’s unbeaten run until the final helped keep pressure under control.
“If you stay in your zone, it helps. Luckily for us in 2023, we didn’t lose a single game except the final. So yes, I was very scared of that. But we played well, and similarly with this group, if they keep winning, there will not be any pressure.”
Reflecting on team bonding during the 2023 campaign, Rohit revealed that he personally stayed away from social media and felt it played a role in maintaining focus.
“It is ideal to get off social media. I still stay away. I get news from outside that this happened or that happened, and I love it. I did it during the 2023 World Cup as well. Before asking anyone else, I had to do it myself.”
He said discussions with then head coach Rahul Dravid centred on whether the idea should be formally suggested to the team.
“Rahul bhai and I were discussing whether we should speak to the team about it. Rahul bhai said, ‘I don’t know if it’s the right thing. It’s very personal. You take the call.’ So I let it go.”
Rohit noted that some players independently backed the idea, and the off-field camaraderie became a defining feature of the campaign.
“A lot of the boys also suggested it. I won’t take names, but two or three guys came and told me this. That’s why the 2023 World Cup was one of our best campaigns — not just because of what we did on the field, but also off it. We stayed together for those 45 days, spent a lot of time together, did various activities, pulled each other’s leg and introduced the fielding medal. All of that reflected on the ground.”
Looking ahead to India’s title defence, Rohit expressed confidence that the current squad is capable of achieving an unprecedented feat.
“I wish them the best. With the team we have, it’s very much possible to do what no team has ever done — winning the T20 World Cup at home and also three ICC trophies on the trot,” he said.
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