Rohit Sharma Says 2023 ODI World Cup Final Loss Left Him Emotionally Drained and Questioning His Future in Cricket

New Delhi, December 22, 2025 Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of India’s heartbreaking loss in the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia, revealing that the defeat left him feeling so drained that he briefly questioned whether he wanted to continue playing the sport. Speaking at a Masters Union event, the former India captain described the period after November 19, 2023, as one of the toughest phases of his career. The World Cup final, played in Ahmedabad, marked the end of India’s unbeaten run in the tournament and delivered a crushing blow to millions of fans. For Rohit, who led the side through the competition, the loss carried deep personal weight. He said that immediately after the final, he felt completely empty, both mentally and physically. The disappointment was so overwhelming that he felt he had nothing left to give to the game. Rohit explained that the World Cup was not just a short-term goal but something he had invested himself in over a long period. Since taking over the captaincy in 2022, he had shaped his approach, fitness, and mindset around winning the tournament. When that dream fell apart at the final hurdle, it left him struggling to process what had happened. Like many players and fans, he found it hard to believe the result and needed time to come to terms with it. He said the recovery was not instant. It took months for him to regain the energy and motivation to step back onto the field with the same passion. During that phase, he kept reminding himself of his love for cricket and why he started playing in the first place. Slowly, with time and reflection, he found his way back and began to reset mentally. Rohit acknowledged that such reactions are natural when someone gives everything to a goal and still falls short. He described the experience as a major life lesson, teaching him how to deal with disappointment, accept setbacks, and start afresh. While it is easy to talk about resilience in hindsight, he admitted that living through that moment was extremely difficult. Since then, Rohit’s career has undergone significant changes. He has retired from both Test cricket and T20 internationals and was removed from the ODI captaincy earlier this year. However, he continues to play the 50-over format and remains focused on one final dream. Rohit has made it clear that he wants to end his career with another attempt at winning the ODI World Cup, which will be held in 2027. Less than a year after the painful loss in Ahmedabad, Rohit experienced redemption of sorts when he led India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies. While that triumph brought joy and relief, it did not erase the pain of the 2023 final. He said the scars of that defeat stayed with him, but they also helped him grow stronger and more focused. Rohit emphasized that life and sport do not end with one failure, no matter how big it feels at the time. He shared that shifting his focus to upcoming challenges, especially the T20 World Cup, helped him move forward. The journey taught him the importance of resetting mentally and finding purpose again after a major setback. As Rohit continues his ODI career, his reflections offer a rare and honest look into the emotional struggles elite athletes face behind the scenes. His determination to keep going, despite heartbreak and change, highlights both the human side of sporting failure and the resilience required to chase unfinished dreams. Rohit Sharma Says 2023 ODI World Cup Final Loss Left Him Emotionally Drained and Questioning His Future in Cricket December 22, 2025 – Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma has opened up about the emotional impact of India’s heartbreaking loss to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, revealing that the defeat left him feeling completely empty and unsure if he wanted to continue playing the sport. Speaking at a Masters Union event, Rohit shared how November 19, 2023, became one of the toughest days of his life, both as a captain and as a player. Rohit said he had put everything into that World Cup, not just in the months leading up to the tournament but ever since taking over the captaincy in 2022. When India’s unbeaten run ended at the final hurdle in Ahmedabad, the disappointment hit him hard. He admitted there was no energy left in his body and it took him a couple of months to recover mentally and emotionally. Like many fans, he struggled to believe what had happened. During that difficult phase, Rohit said he kept reminding himself why he fell in love with cricket in the first place. Slowly, he found his way back to the field, accepting that setbacks are part of the game. He called the experience a big life lesson on how to handle failure, reset, and start fresh, even when it feels impossible in the moment. Since then, Rohit’s career has seen major changes. He has retired from T20 internationals and Test cricket and was removed from ODI captaincy earlier this year. However, he continues to play the 50-over format and has one clear goal left — to give himself one final shot at winning the ODI World Cup in 2027. Less than a year after the 2023 heartbreak, Rohit led India to a T20 World Cup title in 2024 in the USA and West Indies. While that victory brought relief, he admits the pain of the 2023 final was extremely hard to overcome. His journey since then is a reminder that even the strongest athletes face moments of doubt, but resilience and belief can bring them back stronger.