Rohit Sharma's candid revelation at a Masters Union event exposes the raw human side of elite cricket captaincy. The 2023 ODI World Cup final loss shattered
him, turning a dream final into a personal abyss.
India's unbeaten run ended abruptly against Australia in Ahmedabad on November 19, 2023. Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell's heroics chased down 241, leaving Rohit emotionally hollow after pouring years into the campaign since his 2022 captaincy.
"After the 2023 World Cup final, I was completely distraught and felt like I didn't want to play this sport anymore because it had taken everything out of me and I felt I had nothing left," he stated.
"It was a very tough time for me personally because I had put everything into that World Cup not just two or three months before it, but ever since I took over the captaincy in 2022," Rohit added.
"My only goal was to win the World Cup, whether it was the T20 World Cup or the 2023 World Cup. So when it didn't happen, I was completely devastated. There was no energy left in my body. It took me a couple of months to recover and bring myself back. "
He vanished from public view briefly, then rebuilt by reconnecting with cricket's joys. This mindset shift powered India's 2024 T20 World Cup victory and 2025 Champions Trophy win over New Zealand. The India captain didn't just revive himself, but lifted the entire country.
