It was night in Australia and an evening of sorrow here. People were frustrated not merely because we had lost yet another game, but because of the brand of cricket we had been playing for the last two World Cups.
But someone was awake, thinking deeply, restless and emotional. He cried after the loss because he knew that along with him, the dreams of billions had once again shattered.
In that quiet moment of introspection, someone realised that a storm of change was long overdue, and that he would be the one to lead it.
What followed was remarkable. Unbeaten throughout the 2023 World Cup, yet falling short in the grand finale. Then came redemption in the T20 World Cup 2024, conquered without a single defeat. And later, the Champions Trophy, won once again unbeaten.
That someone was none other than Rohit Gurunath Sharma.
Numbers often fail to capture the essence of greatness, and Rohit’s influence transcends statistics. His true impact lay not in records, but in the transformation of a team’s mindset, in restoring belief where it had once faded.
A team that had lost its nerve in crucial knockouts found in him an anchor, a captain who led from the front, attacking from the very first ball and inspiring confidence in everyone around him.
After the 2013 Champions Trophy triumph, India stumbled through a decade of heartbreak. The 2014 T20 World Cup, 2015 World Cup, 2016 T20 World Cup, 2017 Champions Trophy, 2019 World Cup, 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups, and finally, the 2023 World Cup.
Rohit took charge during a turbulent time, when the modern great Virat Kohli stepped down as T20 captain. The BCCI handed over the responsibility to the 2018 Asia Cup winning leader, trusting him to rebuild the team’s lost identity.
As expected, he was criticised, mocked and questioned with every early setback. Yet by the 2023 ODI World Cup, the shift was unmistakable. The team began to play with a freedom and fearlessness that reflected their captain’s own intent.
Every time Rohit said that his only dream was to bring the World Cup home, every cricket fan felt that emotion deeply. And that is why, when India fell short on 19 November 2023, the entire nation wept with him.
The circle completed itself in Barbados, when he lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup. The image of him punching the ground in joy was more than celebration; it was release, redemption and relief for an entire nation.
He may not have been the most successful red ball captain, but he tried with honesty and commitment. And when things did not go his way, he chose to step away quietly and gracefully.
He still dreams of lifting the 2027 ODI World Cup, a dream yet to be fulfilled. But whether or not that happens, his contribution as a leader and as a reformer of India’s cricketing spirit will remain timeless.