Rohit Sharma defends his on-field outbursts, "It's all in the spirit of the game"

Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, has recently opened up about his on-field behavior, particularly his tendency to use strong language and verbally express frustration with his teammates during matches. While admitting that he sometimes loses his cool, Rohit emphasized that his words are not meant to hurt anyone and are simply a reflection of his emotions in the heat of the moment.

Rohit’s fiery remarks on the field often go viral, with fans and the media frequently discussing his outspoken nature. The Indian skipper is known for his sharp comments when his teammates make mistakes. For instance, during a Test match against England, his remark, "Anyone who wanders in the garden, I won't leave him," quickly gained attention. In another instance, he criticized his team’s sluggishness by saying, "Our boys are lazy chickens" during a show.

Rohit has also been seen scolding players during intense moments. In a recent Test match, he chided young Yashasvi Jaiswal for a mistake while fielding at silly point, telling him, "Are you playing street cricket? Sit down, don’t get up until the ball is played."

One player who has often been on the receiving end of Rohit's criticism is left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav. During the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Rohit and teammate Virat Kohli harshly criticized Kuldeep for letting a ball slip past him without attempting to collect it in the semi-final against Australia. In the final against New Zealand, Kuldeep was again scolded by Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli for not backing up a throw behind the stumps.

Despite the criticism, Rohit Sharma defended his actions in an interview with after India’s Champions Trophy 2025 victory. 

"Emotions run high on the field, and sometimes I get carried away. But it’s all in the spirit of the game," he explained. 

"We have a solid team, and everyone knows their role. The words exchanged on the field are not meant to hurt anyone or show off, they're just an expression of our passion and commitment to winning," he added. 

Rohit also reflected on India’s remarkable performance during the Champions Trophy, where they went undefeated throughout the tournament, despite losing all five tosses. He shared his pride in this achievement, calling it "a massive accomplishment." 

Rohit acknowledged that no one initially focused on the tosses, but the realization that India had won the tournament without losing a single match made the victory even more special.

"We didn’t lose a single game. To go undefeated and still lift the trophy is something extraordinary, and it gives me immense satisfaction," he said. 

"After the win, it hit us how special this achievement is. It's hard to describe the feeling, but it makes the victory even sweeter," he concluded.