Former India skipper Rohit Sharma reflected on his desire to make amends for the crushing defeat against Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final by getting one over them in the following year’s T20 World Cup.
India had been dominant throughout the 2023 tournament at home, winning all ten matches leading up to the final, only to falter on the biggest stage with a six-wicket loss to Australia. That defeat prolonged India’s wait for an ICC title, with their last triumph coming in 2013.
However, under Rohit’s leadership, the Men in Blue got a chance to settle the score against Australia during the Super Eight stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup. India seized the moment, with Rohit leading from the front by smashing a sensational 92 off just 41 balls.
His knock powered India to an imposing 205/5 and a 24-run win, effectively knocking Australia out of the tournament. In a Star Sports video ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, Rohit said the heartbreak of the 2023 final fuelled his match-winning show against Australia.
You can watch the video here:
“19 NOV still stays with me.”
Rohit Sharma opens up on the heartbreak of a billion dreams, the fire to hit back, and how taking the attack to Australia became his way of answering history. 🔥🇮🇳
From Starc to Hazlewood — intent, adaptation, and an explosive response when it… pic.twitter.com/6ZGnxYo5rI— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 29, 2026
“Balancing Kuldeep And Varun Key For T20 WC 2026”- Rohit
Rohit Sharma feels that India’s main hurdle in the 2026 T20 World Cup will be figuring out how to include both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy in the playing XI. Although the team has been strong in T20Is, selecting the optimal bowling combination has been tricky due to the emphasis on batting depth.
Often, the squad has had to leave out either Kuldeep or Arshdeep Singh to accommodate a full batting lineup up to No. 8.
“The biggest challenge for captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir will be how to play both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy together. If you want that combination, you can only do it if you play with two seamers, which is a big challenge,” said Rohit Sharma (via MSN).
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.