Rohit Sharma Celebrates India's Cricket Triumphs and Future Prospects
Former India captain Rohit Sharma has expressed immense pride and optimism following the national cricket teams' recent successes. Speaking at the launch of the new season of the T20 Mumbai League and the announcement of the three-team T20 Mumbai Women's League on Saturday, Sharma highlighted the achievements of both the men's and women's squads.
Praising World Cup Victories
Rohit Sharma hailed the India men's team for winning the 2026 T20 World Cup, a victory secured on March 8 in Ahmedabad where they crushed New Zealand by 96 runs in the final. This marked back-to-back T20 World Cup titles for the men's team, following their 2024 win. Led by Rohit Sharma and then Suryakumar Yadav, the squad has demonstrated consistent excellence on the global stage.
Simultaneously, Sharma applauded the women's team for clinching their maiden Women's ODI World Cup title last year. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side beat South Africa by 52 runs at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai to claim the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup. Sharma described this achievement as "fantastic to watch" and emphasized the significance of these victories for Indian cricket.
Emphasizing Momentum and Hard Work
In his address, Sharma expressed hope that "there is no looking back from here" and urged both teams to "carry this momentum forward." He stated, "I am very happy and very proud to see what we have been seeing for the last couple of years now. To come out with flying colours and achieve what we have achieved, not just the men’s team but also the women’s team... was phenomenal."
Sharma credited the success to relentless hard work, noting that "there is no secret to success, it’s all about hard work." He acknowledged the contributions of "people behind the scenes", including coaches, support staff, and ground personnel, who play crucial roles in the teams' achievements. "A lot of people and personnel to give thanks to," he added, underscoring the collective effort involved.
Advice for Aspiring Cricketers
Offering guidance to players in the T20 Mumbai League, Sharma's message was simple: 'Grab your opportunity.' He advised, "You never know what’s going to happen so whenever the opportunity arises you should be ready for the challenges. I still believe in the process to prepare really well and be ready for the opportunity."
When asked if Mumbai cricketers have an edge due to their upbringing struggles, Sharma disagreed. He explained, "I don’t believe in this edge. When players are picked in the national team there is a reason why they’ve been picked." He highlighted the intense competition in Indian cricket, noting that talent must be complemented by luck and visibility. "Sometimes you can be as talented as you can be but if people are not watching you, then you can be slightly unlucky. You’ve got to be lucky as well, but there is no substitute to hard work," he asserted.
Support for Mumbai Cricket and T20 League
Sharma expressed satisfaction with the development of Mumbai cricket, stating, "I am very happy with the way Mumbai cricket is shaping up." He praised the T20 Mumbai League as a significant platform, noting that many young cricketers from the league have progressed to the IPL and national teams. "It is a big, big platform," he emphasized, encouraging participants to leverage this opportunity.
He also commended the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for successfully organizing the revived T20 Mumbai League despite challenges like the monsoon season. "It was a tough task right after the IPL got over, and the monsoon had just started. I got to give credit to each and every member of the MCA to pull that through," Sharma said, acknowledging the efforts of groundsmen and officials in ensuring smooth operations.
The event was attended by notable figures including India women's team pacer Sayali Satghere, MCA president Ajinkya Naik, ex-president Ashish Shelar, and the entire MCA apex council, reflecting the broad support for cricket initiatives in the region.
