Indian captain Rohit Sharma has justified his outburst against Kuldeep Yadav in the ICC Men's Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia, stating that his outbursts on the field were not intended to hurt anyone.
Rohit, 37, is frequently seen chastising his players for being lethargic on the pitch and failing to execute their job. Even in the semi-final against Australia, Rohit and Virat Kohli were furious with Kuldeep because he let the ball go without attempting to cover it.
Then, in the final against New Zealand, Ravindra Jadeja and Virat aimed at Kuldeep when he failed to return behind the stumps to collect the toss. As a result, India missed the opportunity to run out of Michael Bracewell.
In an interview with JioHotstar following the Champions Trophy victory, Rohit Sharma discussed why players display their emotions on the pitch. He also admitted to getting a little "carried away" at times, claiming it was all in the "spirit of the game."
"We have an incredibly solid team, and it’s a joy to play alongside such committed individuals. Everyone knows their role and responsibilities. Of course, emotions run high on the field. Sometimes, I get a bit carried away, but it’s all in the spirit of the game.
The words exchanged on the ground aren’t meant to hurt anyone or show off—they are just an expression of our passion. At the end of the day, our main goal is to win, and we are ready to do whatever it takes to achieve that,” Rohit Sharma told JioHotstar.
Kuldeep Yadav was the star of the show in the final against New Zealand, taking key wickets of Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson.
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma won the Player of the Final award for his aggressive 76-run knock that eased India’s chase of 252-run target.
India remained undefeated throughout the tournament, and this feat can be considered all the more remarkable, considering Rohit Sharma didn't win a single toss in the eight-team tournament.
"We went undefeated despite losing all five tosses. Yet, we still won the trophy. Across the five matches we played, we didn’t lose a single one. Winning a tournament without a single defeat is a massive achievement in itself, and it gives me immense satisfaction.
To be honest, until we won the trophy, no one thought about it. But after the victory, it hit us—we had gone through the entire tournament undefeated. That realization made it even more special. It’s difficult to put into words how that feels right now," he added.
Rohit Sharma has confirmed that he isn't looking to retire from the ODI format.
