New Delhi, Dec 24: Former India captain Rohit Sharma revealed that he briefly contemplated retiring from cricket after India’s heartbreaking loss to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, saying the sport “had taken everything out of me.”
Speaking at a Masters Union event in Gurugram, Rohit said the defeat left him “completely distraught” and without energy, as he had invested himself fully since taking over the ODI captaincy in 2022. “It took some time, but I reminded myself that cricket is something I truly love and slowly found my way back,” he added.
Rohit, who has retired from T20Is and Tests and was relieved of ODI captaincy earlier this year, continues to play the 50-over format and aims for one final shot at glory in the 2027 World Cup.
Reflecting on the journey, he said less than a year after the loss, he led India to the T20 World Cup title in the USA and West Indies, learning to manage disappointment and refocus on future goals. “It was a big lesson on how to deal with setbacks, reset, and start fresh,” Rohit said.