India desperate to win ODI World Cup – Rohit Sharma hopeful of ending ICC title drought

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma stated that the team is desperate to win the upcoming ODI World Cup. Team India last won the last ICC title back in 2013 when MS Dhoni took the team to glory in the Champions Trophy.

Since then the team is consistently qualifying for the knockout stages but they have failed to go all the way in the major events. India has done a fine job in the league stage matches but they have floundered in the crucial stages of the big matches.

Ergo, Rohit Sharma and Co. will be looking to correct their mistakes in the forthcoming ODI World Cup while playing in their own conditions.

Meanwhile, Rohit was not part of the 2011 World Cup squad, when the team went on to win the tournament.

“Honestly, I have never won a (50 overs) World Cup, it’s a dream to win a World Cup and to be here fighting for it nothing makes me happier than that,” Rohit told the media here on the sidelines of an event.

“You don’t get World Cups on a platter, you have to really work hard and that is what we have been doing all these years from 2011 till now. We are all fighting for it,” the India captain said.

On the other hand, Rohit added that everybody is desperate to win the big tournaments and wants to give their best in the major events.

“Everyone is desperate to go and win, because we know we have a good team. We are all good players, that inner confidence and self-belief is there that they can do it. It’s not happened doesn’t mean that we take it lightly. When we lost the 2022 World Cup, I said we will keep fighting for the next World Cup,” he added.

“The World Test Championship was coming and I said we will keep fighting for it, no matter what. Kabhi na kabhi to milega (we will win it at some point),” he expressed.

The Indian skipper feels he needs to deliver the goods as a batter first and then do the job as a leader of the team. Rohit will be looking to give a solid start to his team while opening the innings with Shubman Gill.

“I need to do first as a batter. Captaincy is secondary… my role in the team is more as a batter. Obviously to captain well as well, (but) first of all, I have to score big runs and win games for the team.”

India will begin their ODI World Cup 2023 campaign against Australia at the Chepauk Stadium, Chennai on 8th of October.