IND vs PAK: 'Asked my wife if it was a bad dream' - Rohit Sharma shares painful memories of India's 2023 World Cup Final defeat

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma recently opened up about the heart-wrenching defeat India suffered in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final against Australia.

India’s dream to lift the coveted ICC trophy shattered after they suffered a six-wicket loss to Australia in the ODI World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on November 19, 2023, despite their hard-fought efforts.

In a heartfelt discussion with Adidas India, Rohit recalled the painful moments following Team India’s heartbreaking defeat against Australia in Ahmedabad. The Indian skipper revealed that he avoided the spotlight immediately after the match and quickly left the field.

Rohit Sharma reveals pain and disbelief after 2023 ODI World Cup Final Loss

He recounted the deep sense of disbelief and sorrow that he felt after the loss, as the Men in Blue yet again failed to lift the ICC trophy, having last won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013.

The next morning, the Indian skipper was still grappling with reality as he experienced a moment of disbelief, asking his wife Ritika Sajdeh if the last night had been merely a bad dream.

The Indian opener, who is currently leading the Men in Blue in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024, revealed that it took him two to three days to realize the loss and the long wait for another opportunity to compete for the title in ODI cricket.

Rohit Sharma was quoted as saying by Adidas India: “When I woke up the next day after the World Cup Final, I had no idea what happened last night. I was discussing it with my wife and told 'Whatever happened last night was a bad dream, right? I think the final is tomorrow.' It took me two to three days to realise that we lost the final and that we will get another chance only four years later.”

I just wanted to win World Cup so badly: Rohit Sharma

Rohit also admitted that he and his Indian cricket team were confident about winning the ODI World Cup 2024 due to their strong performances throughout the tournament. However, the god had a different plan, and it left the right-handed batter frustrated and angry with himself.

He added, “Before the final, the thought of losing did not even occur to us. Everyone believed we will run through and keep going in the same direction because we were playing very good cricket. I ran. I was in no mood to stand there in the middle. Honestly, I just wanted this so badly.

When you want something that desperately and you don't get it, you get frustrated, you get angry and you get all these negative things. At that time, you won't even understand what's happening in your life.”

Notably, India had a dominating start to their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in the USA. The Indian cricket team crushed Ireland by eight wickets in their opening game on June 5 in New York. The Men in Blue will next face arch-rivals Pakistan in their second match in the tournament on June 9 in New York.