Since the defeat in the 2023 World Cup final, Rohit Sharma has achieved significant success by winning the T20 World Cup and, just yesterday, the ICC Champions Trophy. Nevertheless, for the Indian captain, securing the 50-overs World Cup remains the ultimate aspiration. The ODI World Cup is the only major white-ball ICC tournament that has eluded Rohit, and following his declaration of 'not retiring', his supporters, along with millions of Indian cricket enthusiasts, are hopeful that he will participate in the 2027 World Cup in South Africa to realize this unfulfilled dream.

Rohit notably expressed two years ago, prior to the World Cup in India, that the 50-overs World Cup represents the pinnacle of achievement for him, while also acknowledging the sweetness of winning the Champions Trophy. He has consistently emphasized his reverence for the 50-overs World Cup, stating that its prestige is unmatched. However, he admitted that lifting the Champions Trophy—often referred to as the mini-World Cup—brought him a joy comparable to that of standing at the summit of success.

"Regardless of the ICC tournament that presents itself, the desire to win them all is inherent. The One-Day World Cup holds a special place because it is the World Cup we have grown up watching. We did not have the World Test Championships or numerous Champions Trophies. That is why I made the earlier statement. However, winning this [Champions Trophy] is equally significant. You can ask me how much effort it takes to achieve this victory," Rohit remarked during the post-match press conference.

"A trophy is a trophy. Securing victory in any final instills a great sense of pride. Today, it is not just my achievement, but the entire nation shares in this immense joy. Winning the final of any tournament is monumental. That is all I wish to convey."

Oh captain, my captain

Rohit Sharma has now joined MS Dhoni as one of the only two captains to secure more than one ICC title for India following his recent victory. Dhoni made history during his tenure by leading India to triumphs in the T20 World Cup in 2007, the ODI World Cup in 2011, and the Champions Trophy in 2013. In contrast, Rohit achieved two of these titles within a mere nine months, and had India not faced a challenging day on November 19, he might have claimed all three titles within three years.

The fact that India secured the trophy despite the absence of pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah and with several players struggling for form prior to the tournament, particularly after a disappointing Test season, underscores the remarkable depth present in Indian cricket.

"This reflects the high quality of the team, the considerable depth, and the strong understanding among the players, along with a sense of enjoyment and excitement. This is the approach we aspire to maintain in our cricket. There is significant external pressure and speculation," Rohit remarked.

"The team has successfully set aside these distractions to concentrate on winning matches and enjoying the game. I take immense pride in being the captain of this team... reaching the finals of all four major tournaments is a commendable achievement and demonstrates our consistency as a unit."

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