As a youngster, Rohit was a member of the team winning 2007 Men\u2019s T20 World Cup in South Africa. But after winning 2013 Champions Trophy, India had their so close yet so far moments of winning titles till that glorious day in Barbados arrived, where Rohit & Co broke the trophy drought in style in an unbeaten campaign.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBarbados will forever be in my veins. This is the proudest moment of my cricketing career. To lift that trophy, to be crowned ICC Men\u2019s T20 World Cup 2024 Champions\u2014it was surreal. I played in the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup and we won under MS Dhoni\u2019s captaincy. And now, to win it again with Rahul Dravid as head coach\u2014it meant everything to this group.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen heartbreak. We\u2019ve come so close. That\u2019s why this one was so special. We worked and planned relentlessly\u2014every day. And when we finally won, all the emotions came pouring out. The younger players, especially those playing their first World Cup, realised how hard it is to win one. Nothing can be taken for granted. It was magical,\u201d said Rohit to JioHotstar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
What was going through his mind before taking the field for the final, which also became his last game for India in T20Is after the championship glory was achieved? Rohit admitted that he didn\u2019t sleep well in the night before the final and nervous energy led to him waking up much earlier than expected.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThirteen years is a long time. Most people don\u2019t even have a 13-year career. So, to wait that long to win a World Cup\u2026 the last one I won was in 2007. For me, it couldn't have gotten any bigger than this. I didn\u2019t sleep the whole night. I was only thinking about the World Cup. I was nervous. I couldn\u2019t feel my legs. Did I feel nerves? Of course.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI just don\u2019t show it\u2014but inside, it was a lot. We were supposed to leave around 8:30 or 9 in the morning. But I woke up at 7. From my room, I could see the ground and just kept watching it. I remember thinking\u2014\u2018In two hours, I\u2019ll be there. And in four hours, the result will be out. Either the Cup will be here or it won\u2019t.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With the bat, India posted 176\/7, thanks to Virat Kohli\u2019s crucial 76 and his 72-run partnership with Axar Patel in the title clash. \u201cIf you hit three boundaries in the first over, then obviously, you\u2019ve started off well. And that\u2019s exactly what every cricketer wants\u2014it helps settle the nerves. The experience of playing for India over so many years also helps in those moments.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYou learn to control your emotions, manage your thoughts, and stay in the present. I\u2019m sure even he (Virat Kohli) was thinking, \u2018Today is the day\u2014I need to stay focused and not worry about what happened in the past.\u2019 He played a brilliant knock and stitched a crucial partnership with Axar Patel,\u201d recalled Rohit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He signed off by admitting to panicking over losing early wickets, but expressed that he had faith in the lower order to come good. \u201cWhen we lost those three wickets up front, there were definitely nerves inside the dressing room. I was panicking\u2014I wasn't comfortable. I remember thinking, \u2018We\u2019ve let them into the game.\u2019 But in the back of my mind, I always had belief in our lower middle order\u2014positions 5, 6, 7, and 8.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThey hadn\u2019t batted much in the tournament, but whenever they got the opportunity, they made it count. And that confidence in them kept me going. Not many people are talking about Axar\u2019s knock, but that innings was a real game-changer. To score 47 off 31 balls at that stage was incredibly crucial.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He signed off by admitting to panicking over losing early wickets, but expressed that he had faith in the lower order to come good. \u201cWhen we lost those three wickets up front, there were definitely nerves inside the dressing room. I was panicking\u2014I wasn't comfortable. I remember thinking, \u2018We\u2019ve let them into the game.\u2019 But in the back of my mind, I always had belief in our lower middle order\u2014positions 5, 6, 7, and 8.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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