Dinesh Karthik opined that Rohit Sharma still dreams of winning the ODI World Cup, as the 2024 T20 title didn’t fully satisfy his hunger for success.
The 2023 ODI World Cup remains one of India’s biggest heartbreaks, despite their strong run through the tournament. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in top form and the pace duo of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah delivering match-winning spells, India looked unstoppable until the final defeat to Australia.
Former cricketer Dinesh Karthik believes Rohit’s desire to lift the 50-over World Cup still fuels his ambitions. The opener, who missed the 2011 edition, was exceptional in 2019 with 648 runs and again in 2023 with 597 runs, but both campaigns ended without the trophy. Karthik feels that while Rohit has achieved almost everything in his career, winning the ODI World Cup remains the ultimate goal for him.
“Rohit Sharma has achieved everything in his cricketing career but there is one dream that is unfulfilled – the 50-over World Cup. And that’s a dream he’s been chasing since the time he started playing cricket,” Karthik said in a video on X.
“In 2011, they (selectors) didn’t pick him in the squad. In 2019 and 2023 – what two campaigns he had – 648 runs in one (2019) and 597 runs in the 2023 World Cup. And at the end of it, he said he just didn’t have anything else left in him and he couldn’t actually believe that they lost that World Cup,” he continued.
“So that burning desire, fire, hunger is what has driven him so far to play the sport. Yes, he achieved the win of the 2024 T20 World Cup but that didn’t fulfil him as much as it would if he wins this 50-over World Cup. And that’s the reason why India should be very aware of what he can bring to the table because every multi-nation tournament he has brought something which is immense in value – the start, the attitude and the belief of what it takes to win in those big moments,” Karthik added.
Rohit Sharma’s Road to 2027 World Cup Begins in Australia
The 38-year-old, now replaced by Shubman Gill as ODI captain, is preparing for India’s three-match ODI series in Australia. Karthik feels Rohit’s experience will be crucial in guiding Gill and shaping India’s roadmap to the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. Away from competition, Rohit has reportedly lost 10 kilograms through intense training under Abhishek Nayar to stay match-fit.
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“Now in his (Rohit) career, this will be a very interesting series – the Australian ODI series that they’re going for purely because dynamics have changed. He has a young captain in Shubman Gill who I’m sure he needs to take care of at various points of time during this journey of reaching that 2027 World Cup in South Africa. The one thing you can be rest assured is knowing the man that he will do everything it takes to make Gill feel comfortable and most importantly, give him the right sort of advice where it matters most,” Karthik said.
“Now we have seen how much he (Rohit) values being part of this team. He’s trained so hard, Abhishek Nayar, and has lost weight, has practiced and done whatever it takes to do well. There’s not too much time between now and the 2027 World Cup. That dream, that burning fire inside him – hope it carries him on to achieve something which will fulfil his ambition of why he took up the sport,” he added.
Last Updated on October 17, 2025
