Rohit Sharma is one of the most successful batsmen and captains in the history of Indian cricket. He has scored more than 10,000 runs in ODIs, including three double centuries and a world record 264. He has also led India to three Asia Cup titles, two Nidahas Trophy titles and a Champions Trophy final. But there is one trophy that has eluded him so far: the ODI World Cup.

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Rohit Sharma will lead India for the first time in the ODI World Cup 2023, which starts on October 8 in Chennai. He will become the eighth man to captain India in the biggest event of cricket, following the likes of Kapil Dev, Mohammad Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. It is a huge honour and a huge responsibility for Rohit, who has expressed his pride and emotion on being a World Cup captain.

Rohit’s dream to win a World Cup

Rohit Sharma has been part of four ODI World Cups so far, but he has never lifted the trophy. He made his debut in the 2007 edition, where India crashed out in the first round. He missed the 2011 edition due to injury, when India won the title under Dhoni’s captaincy. He was part of the 2015 and 2019 editions, where he scored five centuries each, but India lost in the semi-finals on both occasions.

Rohit Sharma has admitted that winning a World Cup is his dream, and he is determined to achieve it this time as a captain. “Honestly, I have never won a (50 overs) World Cup, it’s a dream to win a World Cup and to be here fighting for it nothing makes me happier than that,” Rohit told the media on the sidelines of an event.

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Rohit’s emotional outburst on being a World Cup captain

Rohit Sharma is known for his calm and composed demeanour on and off the field. He rarely shows his emotions or lets them affect his game. But he could not hide his feelings when he was asked about what it meant to him to be a World Cup captain.

“Yeah, no, it means a lot. It’s a huge honour to be part of this World Cup team, firstly, and then being the captain. 50-over World Cup is the biggest sporting event in cricketing history. So, for me, this is the biggest event that I will be part of. And being the captain as well, yes, it’s a huge honour. I’ve said it many a times that it was always a dream to be part of the World Cup team. And then now to be part of the team and then the captain…,” he said taking intermittent pauses, like the significance of what he was about to do was sinking in for him with every word he spoke.

Rohit’s challenge as a World Cup captain

Rohit Sharma has proved his credentials as a captain in limited-overs cricket. He has won five IPL titles with Mumbai Indians, making them the most successful franchise in the tournament. He has also led India to several victories in bilateral and multilateral series in the absence of regular skipper Kohli.

But leading India in a World Cup is a different ball game altogether. It requires not only tactical acumen and man-management skills, but also mental strength and resilience to cope with the pressure and expectations of millions of fans. Rohit Sharma is aware of these challenges, and he is ready to face them with confidence and courage.

“We are Indian cricketers. We are supposed to go through pressure times, pressure situations. I see a lot of strong mental characters in this squad, who have come through hardships in their career. Nothing has been given that easy to any one of them. They’ve gone through their tough times, they’ve spent their hard times in the middle, and achieved what they’ve achieved today,” he said.

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Rohit Sharma has also said that he will not change his style or approach as a captain or as a batsman in the World Cup. He will continue to play his natural game and back his instincts. He will also rely on his experienced teammates like Kohli, Rahane, Pujara and Ashwin for their inputs and support.

“I don’t think anything changes for me as such because I have been doing this for quite some time now – captaining Mumbai Indians or captaining India whenever Virat was not there or Ajinkya was not there – so I don’t think anything changes for me as such,” he said.

Conclusion

Rohit Sharma is one of the finest players and leaders of his generation. He has achieved many milestones and accolades in his illustrious career. But he has one unfinished business: to win a World Cup for India. He has the opportunity to do so in the ODI World Cup 2023, where he will lead India as a captain for the first time. He has expressed his pride and emotion on being a World Cup captain, and he is determined to fulfil his dream and make his country proud.