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SPORTS AUGUST 30, 2024 | The Indian Eye 48

Indian captain spells out the secret of his

success and future vision for team

“Not going to stop”: Rohit Sharma on winning major trophies for India in future as captain

OUR BUREAU

Mumbai
ndia’s T20 World Cup-winning
skipper Rohit Sharma said that
Ihe is “not going to stop” from
winning big trophies for his country
after their latest accomplishment and
thanked his “three pillars” for their
support in his journey as a captain.
Rohit and his men ended India’s
11-year ICC trophy drought as they
defeated South Africa by seven runs
in a thrilling final in June to capture
their second ICC T20 World Cup title
at Barbados. Speaking at the CEAT
Cricket Awards, Rohit said that the
team will keep pushing itself and
“striving for better things”.
“There is a reason I won five IPL
trophies. I am not going to stop, be-
cause once you get the taste of winning
games, and winning Cups, you do not
want to stop and we will keep push-
ing as a team. We will keep striving for
better things in the future,” said Rohit.
Rohit said that the team has some
big assignments coming up, like the
tour to Australia for five Tests later this
year, the ICC Champions Trophy and Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma speaks after being conferred with the Men’s International Cricketer of the Year award during the Ceat
the ICC World Test Championship Cricket Rating Awards 2023-24, at The St. Regis Hotel in Mumbai on Wednesday (ANI)
final (if the team qualifies for the lat-
ter) next year in Pakistan and the UK.
“We have got a couple of solid where people can go out there and India reach 176/7 in 20 overs, while Mohammad Shami was named the
tours coming up, very challenging play freely without thinking too much. Bumrah and Pandya unleashed a pace Men’s ODI Bowler of the Year.
ones as well. For us, it never stops. That is what was required. I got a lot choke on Proteas, snatching the match The Award for Most Matches as a
Once you achieve something you al- of help from my three pillars, who are from a losing position to restrict Pro- Captain in Women’s T20I History was
ways look forward to achieving more. Mr Jay Shah, Mr Rahul Dravid (and teas to 169/8 in their 20 overs. awarded to Harmanpreet Kaur, while
That is what I will be doing. I am pretty the) chairman of selectors Ajit Agark- The 26th edition of the awards Yashashvi Jaiswal and Ravichandran
sure my teammates will be thinking on ar,” Rohit said. honoured a distinguished group of Ashwin were honoured as the Men’s
the same line. What I have seen in the “That was very critical for me cricketers and sports leaders who Test Batter of the Year and Men’s Test
last two years in Indian cricket, there’s to do what I did and not to forget showcased exceptional talent and Bowler of the Year, respectively. On
some real excitement, some real good the players, who came in at different leadership throughout the year. the women’s side, Deepti Sharma was
cricket is being played,” he said. points in time and helped the team to Phil Salt was celebrated as the named the Women’s Indian Bowler
The Indian skipper said that it achieve what we achieved. When we Men’s T20I Batter of the Year, while of the Year, and Smriti Mandhana
was his dream to transform his team won the World Cup, it was import- Tim Southee earned the title of Men’s earned the title of Women’s Indian
into a unit with more freedom and ant for all of us to enjoy the moment T20I Bowler of the Year. In recogni- Batter of the Year.
less thought about statistics and mile- which we did pretty well and thanks to tion of his tactical brilliance, Shreyas The Award for the Fastest Dou-
stones. He thanked his “three pillars”, our nation as well for celebrating with Iyer received the Award for Outstand- ble Century in Women’s Test went to
former head coach Rahul Dravid, the us,” he added. ing Leadership for winning the Indian Shafali Verma, while Jay Shah was
Board of Control for Cricket in India Recapping the final match of the Premier League (IPL) with Kolkata recognized with the Award for Ex-
(BCCI) secretary Jay Shah and chief T20 World Cup 2024, Virat Kohli Knight Riders (KKR). Sai Kishore cellence in Sports Administration for
selector Ajit Agarkar for their support. (76), Hardik Pandya (3/20) and Jas- was recognized as the Domestic Crick- their significant contributions to the
“It was my dream to transform prit Bumrah (2/18) starred in Men in eter of the Year for his consistent per- sport. For his glorious contribution to
this team and not worry too much Blue’s seven-run win over South Afri- formances on the domestic circuit. the world of cricket, Rahul Dravid was
about the stats, the results, to make ca in the final at Barbados on June 29. Virat Kohli took home the Men’s honoured with the Lifetime Achieve-
sure that we create that environment Virat’s masterclass knock helped ODI Batter of the Year award, and ment Award.

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