India got overconfident after semi-final victory? Rohit Sharma reflects on heartbreaking World Cup 2023 final loss

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma recently reflected back on the Men in Blue’s heartbreaking loss to Australia in the ICC World Cup 2023 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Rohit admitted the disappointment of falling short in the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 against Australia, but he also recognized his team’s remarkable performance throughout the tournament.

Despite India's 6-wicket defeat in the final, the captain insisted that his team’s performance in the summit clash was not subpar; rather, the Australians were just slightly better than the hosts.

Rohit Sharma reflects back on India's ODI World Cup 2023 loss 

The Indian skipper further highlighted the significance of the ODI World Cup 2023, saying it was a momentous occasion for both players and fans since it was held in India and everybody wanted the Men in Blue to lift the cup, but it turned out to be heartbreak for all of them.

Sharma further opened up about the Indian team's journey leading up to the 2023 World Cup final, saying they have ticked all the boxes and played good cricket, but certain factors did not align in their favor during the summit clash against Australia, and they couldn’t lift the cup.

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Rohit Sharma said on the show 'Breakfast with Champions': “50-over World Cup for me is the actual WC. We have grown up watching it. Moreover, it was happening in India in front of our fans. We played so well until that final. When we won the semifinal, I thought we were just a step away, we were doing everything right.

"Not a single thing that could make us lose came to my mind. We ticked all the boxes and played good cricket. Confidence was there. I guess we were supposed to have that one bad day and that turned out to be the final. I don't think we played bad cricket in the final, certain things didn't go our way. But they were slightly better than us.”

Notably, India were the only unbeaten team in the ODI World Cup 2023 until the final, having won all of their 10 games in the tournament. But in the final, the Kangaroos crushed all Indians’ hopes of winning the trophy by winning their 6^th title in the 50-over format.

IPL has grown to be so competitive over the years: Rohit Sharma

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma is currently playing in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2024 (IPL 2024) for the Mumbai Indians (MI). The senior opener has so far amassed 156 runs across five matches in the tournament. He is playing under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy for Mumbai in the ongoing IPL 2024.

Reflecting on the evolution of the IPL, Sharma said that the tournament has become very competitive over the years. He highlighted that there are no weak teams in the IPL, and any side is capable of defeating another, and credit goes to advancements in technology.

With access to extensive data and analysis, IPL franchises are now better equipped to identify each other’s weaknesses and address them effectively during the auction process to boost their chances.