Sachin Tendulkar who was part of the 2011 World Cup-winning squad said he would love to see one more trophy to the cabinet. Back in 2011, India sealed the World Cup for the first time after a hiatus of 28 years. Cut to the present day in 2022, and India is yet to win an ICC trophy in nine years with the last being ICC Champions Trophy that came way back in 2013 June.
The last six months were quite tumultuous for Indian cricket which saw Virat Kohli losing captaincy in all three formats. This period might also be considered the lowest of the last decade with India surrendering the initiative in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
Sachin Tendulkar: It’s A Long Wait As 11 Years Have Elapsed Since India Won the 2011 World Cup
With Australia set to host the next T20 World Cup later his year, legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar said that he would love to see the team lift yet another World Cup title.
MS Dhoni launched a six towards long-on against Sri Lanka to seal India’s World Cup at the Wankhede back in 2011. It was a moment to cherish for all Indian fans, who witnessed their team breaking the 28-year-long wait of lifting the coveted trophy. It was also the first instance of a team winning the title on their home soil.
“In the month of April this year, we’ll complete 11 years of World Cup win. That’s a long wait. Everyone including me would love to see that trophy in BCCI’s cabinet. This is one trophy that all the cricketers play for. It doesn’t get any bigger than that… be it a shorter or longer format. World Cup is something special and that’s what I feel,” Sachin Tendulkar said on ‘Backstage with Boria’.
Virat Kohli’s era as India’s T20I captain came to an end on a disappointing note as the team crashed out of the T20I World Cup last year in the Super 12 stage. Ahead of the tournament in the UAE last year, Virat Kohli had said that he would relinquish the T20I captaincy after the end of the T20I World Cup.
With Virat Kohli stepping down as T20I skipper, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) preferred one cricketer as white-ball skipper and accordingly named Rohit Sharma as full-time white-ball captain while announcing India’s squad for the recently-concluded tour of South Africa, comprising of 3 ODIs and 3 Tests.
Sachin Tendulkar: Rohit Sharma And Rahul Dravid Is A Fantastic Pair
The new year 2022 also began on a sour note as India went on to lose ODI as well as Test series in South Africa. Now, with a new coach and a new captain, India would look to scale new heights, ignoring what transpired in the last six months or so.
When asked about the new coach-captain duo, Sachin Tendulkar exuded confidence. “Rohit & Rahul is a fantastic pair. I know that guys would give their best shot and prepare to the best of their ability. You have so many people backing you. It’s all about having that support at the right time. Of course, everyone has played enough cricket. Rahul has played enough cricket to understand there are gonna be ups and downs along the way. Not to lose hope is the only thing. Keep trying and we will keep moving forward,” he further said.
Labelling them as a “fantastic pair”, Sachin Tendulkar also praised Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid, saying that both stalwarts have played enough cricket to overcome all “ups and downs”.
The 3-0 ODI series drubbing in South Africa was a setback for Rahul Dravid, who was with the senior team in his first overseas coaching assignment. India next hosts West Indies for 3 ODIs and as many T20Is next month, where a fit-again Rohit Sharma will reunite will Rahul Dravid in the build-up to the 2022 T20I World Cup.