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'We Haven't Won; It’s Fine!'- Rohit Sharma 'Not' Overthinking India's Trophy Drought

OneCricket

image-lnb8xm3wRohit Sharma will lead India in 2023 World Cup [AP]

Rohit Sharma is mentally gearing up for the 2023 World Cup with clarity and honest intentions. The Indian captain is particularly keen on not allowing the pressure of expectations to dictate his headspace and guarding his troops from overthinking the country's ICC title drought. 

India haven't won a men's ICC trophy since clinching a resounding victory at the 2013 Champions Trophy in England and Wales. Since then, the Men in Blue have come close to reigning supreme on the world stage on multiple occasions but have seen their dream vanish in front of their eyes at the final hurdle. 

In the 50-over World Cup, India made it to the semifinals of the 2015 and 2019 editions of the tournament without breaking past Australia and New Zealand in the knock-stage. 

Now approaching a home World Cup with great hopes and anticipation, Rohit said he is not worried about the past and believes in staying in the present. 

"Yes, we have not won; it’s fine! I’m not a person who overthinks and puts myself in a tough place where I’m not able to make a decision. England started winning now; in 2019 they won the World Cup after so many years. It happens," Rohit told the Indian Express. 

When asked who will win the prestigious cup eventually, Rohit avoided any predictions from his end and reiterated his emphasis on keeping his players in the right frame of mind amidst huge public expectations. With no shortage of ability and skill within the ranks, Rohit is aware it's a matter of being in a good headspace and enjoying their time out in the middle. 

"I don’t have an answer for it. How can I say that now? All I can hope is that the team is in a good space. Everybody is fit and fine. That’s all I can hope for. I cannot say beyond this. Space is such an important factor and it’s a very key thing now," he said. 

"What people are expecting we can’t control. In India wherever we go, be it airports or hotels, they say, ‘World Cup jeetna hai sir’ (You have to win the World Cup). It happens everywhere. It will never stop," Rohit added. 

The skipper admitted, however, that India's long wait for the next ICC title has been disappointing for sure. 

Rohit also answered a few brewing questions outside about his future in Indian cricket, whether this is his last 50-over World Cup aged 36, and if he feels the tag of leadership came to him on time.

"Obviously, you want to be at your peak for this, say when you are 26-27. But you cannot always get what you want. You are talking about the Indian captaincy and there have been stalwarts in the Indian team," Rohit said. 

"Many more players deserved to be the captain of the team. I had to wait for my turn and that’s absolutely fair enough. The guys before, Virat was before me, so was MS (Dhoni)," he concluded.

India will begin their World Cup 2023 campaign against Australia in Chennai on October 8, Sunday.