MUMBAI: Congratulating the Indian men’s team for winning the World Cup 2026 as well as the women’s team for winning their first women’s ODI World Cup title last year, former India captain Rohit Sharma hoped that “there is a look back from here” and both sides “carry this momentum forward”. “I’m very happy and very proud of what we’ve seen the last couple of years. To come out on top and achieve what we’ve achieved, not just the men’s team but also the women’s team winning the World Cup in (Navi) Mumbai, it’s been fantastic to watch. Lately the men’s team, what they’ve done, has been phenomenal. I hope this is just the beginning because we’re both starting now, looking back. The men’s and women’s teams have that momentum. I just hope we carry this momentum forward,” Rohit said at the launch of the new T20 Mumbai League season and the announcement of the three-man T20 Mumbai Women’s League on Saturday.
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Led by Rohit Sharma and then Suryakumar Yadav, Indian men’s teams secured back-to-back T20 World Cup titles in 2024 and then on 8 March 2026 in Ahmedabad, crushing New Zealand by 96 runs in the final. Meanwhile, Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian women’s team defeated South Africa by 52 runs at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai to clinch last year’s third Women’s ODI World Cup in 2025.
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The modern-day great also credited the “people behind the scenes” for the success of the Indian men’s and women’s teams. “Success is no secret, it’s all about hard work. The men’s and women’s team have worked really hard to achieve what they’ve achieved today. Of course it’s not just about the players performing on the pitch, there are so many people behind the scenes who have put so much hard work into this success for the team to be successful. A lot of people and staff to thank,” said the 38-year-old. Rohit’s advice to Mumbai T20 players was simple: ‘Seize your opportunity.’ “You never know what’s going to happen, so whenever an opportunity arises, you should be ready for challenges. I still believe in the process of preparing really well and being ready for the opportunity,” said the ‘Hitman’.When asked if Mumbai cricketers have an edge over their counterparts because of the struggles they went through growing up as cricketers, Rohit disagreed with the idea. “I don’t believe in this advantage. When players are selected in the national team, there is a reason why they were selected. We have seen that there is so much competition in our country when we talk about cricket. Right from U-14 you have to be lucky; of course you need talent to be successful, but you also have to be lucky to be in the right place at the right time, but if people don’t notice you, you can be like that.” then you can be a bit unlucky, you have to be lucky too, but there is no substitute for hard work, not just for Mumbaikars but also for the players who represent the country,” said the great introduction. Indian women’s team pacer Sayali Satghere, Mumbai Cricket Association president Ajinkya Naik, ex-president Ashish Shelar and the entire MCA top council were also present. Rohit expressed his happiness “with the way cricket is shaping up in Mumbai.” “They are going through this tough game to achieve success. But (I am) very happy with the way Mumbai cricket is shaping up, also with what T20 Mumbai has done. A lot of the young cricketers we have seen playing this T20 Mumbai have gone on to play for the IPL team and of course the national team, so it is definitely a big format that will play a big platform and I will. I am happy that we are doing it again after a successful season last year,” he said. Rohit gave credit to MCA for running the revived T20 Mumbai League despite the monsoon just starting. “It was a tough task right after the IPL ended and the monsoon just started. I have to commend every member of the MCA for pulling it off, doing three matches in a day is not easy and also a big, big round of applause to all the players on the field who raised their hands and prepared the pitch, which is why I said there is no substitute for hard work,” said Roh’
