New Delhi: After leading his team to an unbeaten performance in the ICC Champions Trophy, Indian captain Rohit Sharma expressed confidence in the future of Indian cricket, highlighting the abundance of young talent eager to showcase their skills on the international stage, as reported by ICC Cricket.
India's successful Champions Trophy journey featured numerous current and emerging stars, including Shubman Gill (188 runs in five matches with a century), Shreyas Iyer (243 runs in five matches with two fifties), Axar Patel (109 runs in five matches with five wickets), Hardik Pandya (99 runs in four matches and four wickets), KL Rahul (140 runs in five matches at an average of 140.00), and Varun Chakravarthy (nine wickets), all of whom played pivotal roles in securing the team's second consecutive white-ball title.
Sharma noted that the team's undefeated run in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 reflects their dedication and enthusiasm, which bodes well for the future.
When asked if he believed the team could dominate international cricket for the next decade, Rohit emphasized the framework established to nurture young talent.
"That is the whole point," he stated, as quoted by ICC. "You want to build your bench strength while actively competing. Over the past four or five years, we have consistently sought to provide opportunities to these players, and they have seized them," he remarked.
He also mentioned that young players are excelling across all formats, leading to numerous discussions regarding team selection.
"When the conversation revolves around which players to include, who to exclude, and who might miss out on the starting eleven, it indicates the significant depth within this team," he concluded.
The team is eagerly anticipating two major international tournaments in the next two years, including a T20 World Cup to be held on home ground (co-hosted with Sri Lanka) in early 2026, followed by a Cricket World Cup in 2027. Rohit is optimistic about being part of both squads and believes the foundation has been laid for the team to remain a competitive force.
"I can confidently assert that the future of Indian cricket is in very capable hands, considering the emerging players, their willingness to embrace responsibility, and their immense drive."
"The enthusiasm and talent are evident. Now, it’s about translating that into performance on the field," he concluded.
