Rohit Sharma believes Indian cricket is on the right trajectory—both in performance and in mindset—and has underlined his ambition for the national team to establish itself as the clear-cut benchmark in world cricket. Speaking at Mumbai Indians’ ESA Day event, the former India captain pointed to a strong run across major tournaments and formats, while also reflecting on how the sport has transformed since his international debut.
Key takeaways
- Rohit Sharma said he wants India to become the undisputed powerhouse of world cricket.
- He praised India’s recent success across formats, naming the 2024 World Cup, Women’s World Cup, U19 World Cup, Champions Trophy and another T20 World Cup.
- Rohit highlighted how modern cricket has become more aggressive in white-ball batting than in earlier years.
- He believes today’s players have shown more fearlessness and openness, helping the sport and leagues reach higher levels.
- Ahead of Mumbai Indians’ last IPL 2026 league game, he was declared “100% fit” despite earlier injury disruptions.
- In eight matches this season, Rohit scored 283 runs at an average of 40.42 and a strike rate of 160.70, including an 84 (44) vs LSG and 78 (38) vs KKR.
Rohit’s push for India to dominate global cricket
Rohit used the ESA Day platform to look beyond match results and talk about where he believes Indian cricket is headed. He described his goal in straightforward terms—wanting India to be the leading force in world cricket—while adding that the past three years have been especially impressive to witness. In his view, the country’s improving cricketing ecosystem is a major reason behind the steady performances seen internationally.
He also linked the current wave of success to India’s output across multiple competitions. Rohit specifically referenced the 2024 World Cup, the Women’s World Cup, the U19 World Cup, the ICC Champions Trophy, and a further T20 World Cup as examples of how consistently India have been operating at a high level.
“I want India to be the powerhouse of world cricket… that is the bottom line,” Rohit said, before expressing hope that India can keep the momentum going and continue their winning run.
How the game’s tempo has changed since Rohit’s debut
Rohit then shifted to a broader reflection on the evolution of cricket during his playing years. He said the sport has moved dramatically forward, particularly in the shortest format, where batting has become far more attack-minded. In his memory, innings once revolved around getting to 130-140 as a solid total, but he stressed that the same benchmark no longer feels convincing in today’s high-tempo games.
According to Rohit, the changing scoring patterns are evidence of how drastically the sport has advanced over time, with modern teams expecting higher totals and more decisive impacts from each phase of an innings.
Fearlessness, mindset and the future of T20 leagues
Discussing what has driven the modern rise, Rohit pointed to the fearlessness shown by current players. He suggested that cricketers are now more willing to be bold and to embrace fresh ideas about how to approach matches, rather than staying overly conservative.
In his view, this mindset has become a positive sign not only for the sport, but also for the leagues that increasingly reward proactive cricket. Rohit said players are less afraid to take a step forward, and that approach should continue to lift standards in the coming years.
Letting youngsters enjoy the game
When asked about the next generation, Rohit emphasised the need to protect young talent from excessive pressure too early. He explained that the right approach can vary by age, noting that the system includes youngsters from around six years old up to 18.
Rohit said young players shouldn’t be burdened with expectations at an early stage, and that enjoyment—watching and playing with friends—should remain central. He added that circumstances often determine what matters most at a given time, but the principle should be clear: no one can force a child to do something they don’t want to pursue.
Rohit declared 100% fit ahead of MI’s final league match in IPL 2026
Rohit also received a timely fitness update ahead of Mumbai Indians’ concluding IPL 2026 league fixture, which is against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium. The veteran opener has been officially declared “100% fit” after dealing with injury interruptions during the season.
Despite appearing in only eight matches, Rohit has still delivered meaningful contributions with the bat. He has accumulated 283 runs at an average of 40.42 and a strike rate of 160.70.
His standout outings have included a rapid 84 off 44 balls against Lucknow Super Giants, along with a striking 78 off 38 deliveries versus Kolkata Knight Riders.
