Sharma Bares World Cup Nerves: India Captain Reflects on T20 Triumph and 11-Year ICC Title Wait

Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian cricket team, has opened up about the immense pressure and emotional journey leading up to their victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup. The win ended an 11-year drought for India in ICC tournaments, marking a significant moment in his career.

Rohit Sharma's victorious moment with the T20 World Cup trophy.

Recalling the triumph on JioHotstar’s show "Champions Waali Feeling Phir Se," Sharma shared his emotions on the eve of the final against South Africa in Barbados. “Thirteen years is a long time. Most people don’t even have a 13-year career. So, to wait that long to win a World Cup… the last one I won was in 2007," he stated, highlighting the long wait since his previous World Cup win.

He confessed to feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement before the match. "For me, it couldn't have gotten any bigger than this. I didn’t sleep the whole night. I was only thinking about the World Cup. I was nervous. I couldn’t feel my legs. Did I feel nerves? Of course. I just don’t show it—but inside, it was a lot," he admitted.

Sharma described waking up early and being unable to take his eyes off the ground from his hotel room. "We were supposed to leave around 8:30 or 9 in the morning. But I woke up at 7. From my room, I could see the ground and just kept watching it. I remember thinking—‘In two hours, I’ll be there. And in four hours, the result will be out. Either the Cup will be here or it won’t.’”

The 2024 T20 World Cup also held special significance as it marked the farewell of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the T20 format. Both players concluded their T20 careers on a high note.

Sharma's performance throughout the tournament was remarkable, scoring 257 runs in eight innings, including three half-centuries. His average was 36.71, with a strike rate exceeding 155, making him the second-highest run-scorer in the competition.