Rohit Sharma has revealed that his Indian players used the built-up 鈥榓nger鈥 from the 2023 ODI World Cup final loss to Australia to beat them in the T20 World Cup the following year. He said the Men in Blue had it in their mind that the Australians had 鈥榬uined鈥 November 19, 2023 (the day of the final, borderline-traumatic for many fans) for the entire country and the dressing room was alligned in its eagerness to knock them out.
India were unbeaten in the 2023 World Cup until the final, scripting some of the best ODI wins in the country鈥檚 history and building up towards a fairytale finish in front of a packed Ahmedabad stadium. However, Australia, who had had an inconsistent tournament, turned the tables on them with a six-wicket win.
鈥淭he anger was always there. It was in the back of my mind,鈥 Rohit said in an interview with Star Sports. 鈥溾業nhone hamaara 19 November kharaab kar diya, humara nahi poore desh ka (They ruined our 19 November, not just ours but the entire country鈥檚). We should reserve something for them. We should also give them a nice gift.鈥欌
The scars of the match remained for months, but were somewhat assuaged in the T20 World Cup. India knocked the Aussies out of the tournament in the Super-Eight stage at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. Rohit was the Player of the Match, scoring a brilliant 41-ball 92 to set-up the 24-run win.
鈥淵ou have these thoughts in your mind,鈥 Rohit added. 鈥淏ut when you鈥檙e batting, you鈥檙e not thinking, 鈥業 want to knock them out of the tournament鈥. Yes, in the dressing room we keep talking about these things. There鈥檚 that kind of fun that yes, inko bahar karte hai, maza aayega! (let鈥檚 knock them out, it鈥檒l be so fun).鈥
India went on to win the tournament, beating South Africa in the final at Barbados, ending a 11-year-long wait for an ICC title, under Rohit鈥檚 captaincy. The opening batter, alongside Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, retired from the format after the win.
Rohit has also hung up his Test boots but is said to be preparing for a swan-song in the 2027 ODI World Cup.