A viral moment from the ‘United in Triumph’ event has captured cricket fans’ hearts, with ICC Chairman Jay Shah fondly addressing Rohit Sharma as “India’s captain” long after the star batter stepped down from leadership duties. The 38-year-old opener’s beaming smile lit up the room, underscoring his enduring legacy amid India’s transitional phase. This gesture highlights Rohit’s monumental contributions, even as Shubman Gill takes the ODI helm ahead of the 2027 World Cup preparations.
Jay Shah’s tribute to Rohit Sharma’s trophy-hauling tenure
Shah’s words resonated deeply during the event, where he declared, “Our captain is sitting here. I will call him captain only, as he has led the team to two ICC trophies. During the 2023 World Cup, after winning ten successive matches, we could only win hearts but couldn’t lift the trophy. In February 2024, I had said in Rajkot that in the next World Cup, we will win both hearts and the cup.”
Shah reflected on the 2023 ODI World Cup agony—ten straight wins but no silverware—and how Rohit delivered on a promise made in Rajkot in February 2024 to conquer both hearts and cups. Under Rohit’s full-time ODI captaincy from December 2021, India notched 42 victories in 56 matches, clinching the 2023 Asia Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai, where his gritty 76 steered a four-wicket chase.
In T20Is, Rohit’s record shines brightest: 49 wins from 62 games, boasting a 79.03% success rate, capped by the 2024 T20 World Cup glory—India’s second title in the format.
Here’s the video:
Jay Shah 🗣️: “our captain Rohit Sharma is sitting here. I am still calling you captain because under you, we won two ICC trophies”.
Jay Shah is grateful to Rohit Sharma for ending the drought of ICC trophies for India 🥹🇮🇳pic.twitter.com/7xjVZdjkwQ
— Kusha Sharma (@Kushacritic) January 8, 2026
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Rohit to carry on his form as a batter in New Zealand ODIs
Rohit enters the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand with red-hot batting form, primed to unleash his destructive opening prowess starting January 11 at Vadodara’s BCA Stadium. Recent Mumbai training sessions revealed a fitter Rohit hammering sixes and crisp drives, signalling his intent to dominate after a calculated ODI break post the October 2025 Australia tour captaincy handover and South Africa series.
Averaging over 50 in ODIs as a specialist batter this cycle, Rohit’s explosive 76 in the 2025 Champions Trophy final chase against New Zealand underscores his big-match temperament, setting the stage for fireworks alongside Virat Kohli under Gill’s leadership.
