India have just won a T20 World Cup. There is no ODI World Cup for another three years. But so what, says Rohit Sharma. This three-match series against Sri Lanka is still top-flight international cricket. The Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is currently in Sri Lanka for the upcoming ODI series, as the first match is scheduled for Friday, August 02. This will be Rohit’s first international outing after India’s successful T20 World Cup triumph in the Caribbean and the USA.
Perhaps it is tempting to see it primarily as an opportunity to experiment, but India feel it is a series worth winning on its own merits. In fact, so embedded is this competitive spirit for Rohit Sharma, that even though he has retired from T20Is and was unavailable for selection for the series that was just played, deep in his own mind, he still thinks he’s a T20I player.
Rohit Sharma back in cricketing boots after a successful T20I career and World Cup win
Rohit Sharma had a dream end to his T20I career. Rohit Sharma led India to the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados, slammed the ground in euphoria, planted the tri-color on the ground, lifted the trophy and very casually announced his retirement from the format answering the last question during India’s post-match press conference. Rohit’s announcement came shortly after another Indian superstar, Virat Kohli had revealed about his decision to retire from T20I cricket, going out as India’s leading run-scorer and century-hitter in the format.
The internet is buzzing after Rohit passed certain remarks on the eve of the first ODI between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo. Rohit, who is set to play his first 50-overs match for India since the 2023 World Cup final, said – albeit jokingly – that he still feels rested from T20Is and will be called up whenever a big tournament – in this case the 2026 T20 World Cup or the 2025 Asia Cup in India – will be played.
Rohit Sharma urges India to move on from T20 World Cup win ahead of 1st ODI vs Sri Lanka.
Rohit Sharma urges India to move on from T20 World Cup win ahead of 1st ODI vs SL
Team India skipper Rohit Sharma urged the side to move on from the memorable 2024 T20 World Cup victory in the West Indies and the USA. While acknowledging the incredible achievement, Rohit felt it was time to look forward to the next set of important tournaments. The Men in Blue became the first-ever team to win a T20 World Cup by going unbeaten through the tournament. Following the triumph, Rohit Sharma announced his T20I retirement along with Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja.
However, India continued their winning run by trouncing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, 4-1 and 3-0 in their next two T20I series. Speaking at the press conference on the eve of the Sri Lanka ODIs, Rohit stressed the importance of putting behind the T20 World Cup win and focusing on the upcoming assignments.
“I had a good time off from cricket. It was a great feeling to come back home after winning the World Cup and what we experienced in Delhi and Mumbai. But yeah, now we have to move on, cricket moves on. Whatever we have done in the past, that was good for that particular period of time, but time keeps moving forward and we also need to keep moving forward,” said Rohit.
Rohit’s Mumbai Indians teammate Suryakumar Yadav was made India’s T20I captain after he retired from the format. However, Rohit will continue to lead India in the other two formats.
“The standard of Indian cricket is more important” – Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma felt winning or losing a game would be acceptable if Team India and its players maintained a high standard while experimenting.
Despite the T20 World Cup triumph, India continues to be haunted by disappointing endings in the ODI World Cups, with two semi-finals and a final defeat in the previous three editions.
“At the end of the day, the standard of Indian cricket is more important and while we are doing that if you lose a game then it is absolutely fine. You are still trying to do something different and you are not compromising on the standard. We are a sports team, cricket team, and we should be allowed to lose while we are trying to do things differently,” said Rohit.
However, he remained hell-bent on winning the Sri Lankan series and said:
“It ( the series) is not a practice ground. It is an international game. We want to play good cricket and achieve something out of this series. But, sometimes you have to understand that when you play for the nation, the quality of cricket should remain the way it is.”
India’s three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka begins in Colombo on Friday, August 2.