'Watching it on TV…': Rohit Sharma breaks silence on missing first-ever T20 WC

Rohit Sharma’s singular streak of appearing successful each T20 World Cup since the tournament’s inception is present acceptable to end. Only 2 players person participated successful each 9 editions, and Rohit stands arsenic the lone Indian successful that elite group.

But with the 2026 T20 World Cup coming to India adjacent February and his status from T20Is past June, the erstwhile skipper acknowledged that helium volition acquisition the adjacent variation from location for the archetypal time, admitting that the thought of “watching the World Cup connected television” is inactive thing helium is learning to accept. Despite stepping distant from T20Is much than a twelvemonth agone and ending his Test vocation successful May, Rohit said the displacement to beingness arsenic a retired subordinate remains an ongoing adjustment.

On Tuesday, ICC president Jay Shah announced Rohit arsenic the authoritative ambassador for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The 2024 T20 World Cup-winning skipper called the honour special, noting that players are seldom appointed ICC ambassadors portion inactive progressive successful their playing days. He expressed anticipation that the upcoming variation would make the aforesaid excitement with a caller radical of Indian players. Rohit besides reflected connected his 3 ICC titles, including 2 arsenic captain, and recalled however hard it was to extremity India’s agelong drought betwixt 2014 and 2023.

He admitted that winning immoderate planetary trophy is an immense situation and that the team’s desperation during the thin years made the caller triumphs adjacent much meaningful. With Suryakumar Yadav present starring India’s run astatine the 2026 lawsuit arsenic the squad attempts to go the archetypal broadside to clasp the T20 title, Rohit confessed that the thought of nary longer being successful the dressing country remains unfamiliar. Still, helium said helium is gradually uncovering comfortableness successful this caller chapter. Watching a World Cup arsenic a spectator, helium said, volition beryllium antithetic aft featuring successful each 1 of them truthful far. “I’m inactive getting utilized to sitting astatine location and watching it connected TV,” helium remarked, adding that helium has begun to bask this antithetic perspective. Rohit made it clear, however, that helium has not retired from each formats. He reminded everyone that helium remains an progressive cricketer and volition rejoin the squad aboriginal this week successful Ranchi for India’s three-match location ODI bid against South Africa. “I’ll beryllium gathering the boys soon. I americium inactive playing,” helium said with a smile.