Rohit Sharma breaks silence over World Cup heartbreak, here's what he said...

After a month of silence following India's heartbreaking defeat to Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final, skipper Rohit Sharma has finally spoken out, sharing his emotional rollercoaster and the path toward healing.

In a heartfelt video posted on Team Ro's Instagram handle, Rohit spoke candidly about the initial numbness and despair, "The first few days, I didn't know what to do," he confessed. Seeking relief in solitude, he eventually found strength from the support of fans nationwide.

𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 🟩🟩🟩⬜️❤️‍🩹

🎥: IG/@team45ro#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #MumbaiMeriJaan @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/HAQpGrV9bf

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) December 13, 2023

"Everywhere we went, there was so much appreciation for our effort," he said, acknowledging the unwavering passion of the Indian cricket community. "That's what helped me get back on my feet and focus on the future."

Rohit didn't shy away from the disappointment of falling short at the final hurdle. "If I think more and more about it, I feel quite disappointed," he admitted. However, he appreciated the dominant journey India had embarked on, by remaining unbeaten for 10 matches.

India's achievement in WC

He highlighted individual brilliant performances from Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami, and his own significant contributions with the bat. The team's spirit against arch-rivals Pakistan and the double victories over New Zealand were the achievements which were further sources of pride amidst the anguish.

He added, "I've always grown up watching the 50-over World Cup. To me, that was the ultimate prize, the 50-over World Cup. We've worked all these years, for that World Cup. And it is disappointing, right? If you don't get through it, don't get what you want, what you've been looking for all this while, what you were dreaming of. You get disappointed. You get frustrated as well at times."

Did Rohit Sharma retire?

While speculation surrounds his potential return as captain for the T20 World Cup  2024, Rohit's future in the shorter format remains uncertain. "Not winning the World Cup will go down as a missed opportunity."

Looking ahead, Rohit expressed his commitment to the upcoming challenges. He will lead the pack against South Africa in a two-match Test series starting on December 26th, followed by a five-match Test series against England, which will be hosted in India.  

The Hitman will be 40 years old at the next ODI World Cup summit, which might slim his chances to participate in the championship.