Rohit Sharma credits 'three pillars' for India's T20 World Cup victory

India's long wait for an ICC trophy ended under the leadership of Rohit Sharma as they claimed the T20 World Cup 2024 title. In a thrilling final, India defeated South Africa by seven runs, a moment that brought tears to the eyes of many, including captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli, who played a key role in the match.

Speaking about their success in the tournament, Rohit expressed his gratitude towards BCCI secretary Jay Shah, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and former head coach Rahul Dravid. He referred to them as the "three pillars" who supported him throughout his journey to transform the Indian team into a winning side. Rohit emphasized that his focus was not on stats or results, but on creating a positive environment in the dressing room where players could perform freely.

“It was my dream to transform this team and not worry too much about the stats, the results, to make sure that we create that environment where people can go out there and play freely without thinking too much,” Rohit said.

Rohit acknowledged the crucial support he received from Shah, Dravid, and Agarkar, which allowed him to lead the team effectively. He also praised the players who stepped up at various times to contribute to the team's success.

“That is what was required. I got a lot of help from my three pillars, who are actually Mr Jay Shah, Mr Rahul Dravid (and the) chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar. That was very critical for me to do what I did and not to forget the players, who came in at different points in time and helped the team to achieve what we achieved,” he further added.

With the T20 World Cup behind them, Rohit is now looking ahead to new challenges. India has a busy schedule with 10 Test matches lined up, including two against Bangladesh, three against New Zealand, and five against Australia. Rohit's goal is to perform well in these matches and secure a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) finals, with hopes of winning the title this time.

“We’ve got a couple of solid tours coming up, very challenging ones as well. For us, it never stops. Once you achieve something you always look forward to achieving more. That is what I will be doing. I’m pretty sure my teammates will be thinking on the same line. What I’ve seen in the last two years in Indian cricket, there’s some real excitement, some real good cricket is being played,” he concluded.