As the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka approaches, Captain Rohit Sharma pinpointed the need to move past the excitement of winning the T20 World Cup and focus on upcoming challenges, including next year's Champions Trophy.
Rohit reflected on his break from cricket and the joy of returning home as a World Cup champion. However, he stressed the importance of looking ahead, stating that cricket is always moving forward. He noted, "What we experienced in Delhi and Mumbai was fantastic, but now it's time to move on. Cricket moves on."
Rohit acknowledged that past achievements were significant at the time but highlighted the necessity of continual progress. He compared this to the period after the 2023 World Cup, where despite disappointment, the team had to look ahead to future tournaments. With the T20 World Cup concluded, the focus now shifts to what lies ahead for the team, including the upcoming big tournaments.
Speaking about the new head coach, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit expressed confidence in Gambhir's vision for the team. He mentioned their long-standing acquaintance and shared that Gambhir has clear goals for the team. Their discussions have revolved around identifying the team's needs, addressing shortcomings, and planning for future success. Rohit repeated the importance of learning from the current series and setting the stage for future achievements without planning too far ahead.
On the topic of choosing between Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul as the wicketkeeper-batsman for the ODIs, Rohit acknowledged the difficulty of the decision. He recognised both players as "match-winners" with significant contributions to the team. Pant returned to the team during the T20 World Cup in the Americas, while Rahul is set to play his first one-day match since January in the series opener against Sri Lanka.
Rohit remarked, "It’s a tough call between Rahul and Pant. Both are quality players with their unique abilities. They have each won many games for us." He added that having such quality options is a good problem to have and looks forward to making these decisions as captain.