Ahead of India versus Sri Lanka ODI series, captain Rohit Sharma has issued a stern warning to his teammates to avoid complacency following the team's recent T20 World Cup victory. Emphasising the need to focus on future challenges, Sharma has urged the team to shift their attention away from the past triumph.
Rohit Sharma urges Team India to move on from T20 World Cup title triumph
India's victory in the T20 World Cup ended an 11-year drought for ICC trophies. The team's previous ICC title win was in the 2013 Champions Trophy, making the recent T20 World Cup triumph a significant milestone.
Following India's T20 World Cup victory, which sparked nationwide celebrations, captain Rohit Sharma has emphasized the need for the team to move forward. While acknowledging the enjoyment derived from the celebrations in Mumbai and Delhi, Sharma stressed the importance of shifting focus to upcoming challenges. The Indian skipper made these remarks during a press conference ahead of the ODI series against Sri Lanka.
"I had a good time off from cricket. It was a great feeling to come back home after winning the World Cup ... what we experienced in Delhi and Mumbai. But yeah, now we have to move on, cricket moves on," said Rohit, as quoted by PTI.
"Whatever we have done in the past, that was good for that particular period of time, but time keeps moving forward and we also need to keep moving forward," he added.
Rohit Sharma has drawn parallels between India's response to the T20 World Cup victory and the team's approach following the heartbreaking defeat in the ODI World Cup final last year. He emphasized the importance of moving forward, despite the initial disappointment, and focusing on upcoming challenges, including the Champions Trophy.
"That's what happened after the 2023 World Cup. There was a lot of disappointment, but we had to move on and look forward to this World Cup. Now, that the T20 World Cup is over, we have to think about what lies ahead of us as a team. Yeah, there is plenty to look forward to, a big tournament coming up," he added.
India's ODI return after six months
The upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka marks India's return to the 50-over format after a six-month hiatus. The team's last ODI series was against South Africa in December of the previous year. Captain Rohit Sharma is also set to make his ODI comeback since the World Cup final in November.
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