What a year the Hitman has had on the cricket field! First, he led the Indian cricket team to the final of the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup in 2023 before going a step further and conquering glory at the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados. You needn’t look beyond the crowds and the celebrations that followed on the Indian team’s return back home to know what it meant to every Indian.

“I want to thank my three pillars, Rahul Dravid, Ajit Agarkar, and Jay Shah, for creating an environment where players can feel free and express themselves on the field. These three were instrumental in our journey in the World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. I got a lot of help from them during the event,” said RO at an awards ceremony in Mumbai on Wednesday (August 21).

“Players were clinical in the tournament and it was important for us to celebrate after winning the trophy. We enjoyed the moment and I want to thank the people of our country for celebrating with us,” he added.

But our Hitman is not someone who rests on his laurels. He is hungrier than ever to take India to further glory. Nothing happier for the Paltan than to hear it from RO himself.

“Honestly, for the last two years from what I’ve seen in Indian cricket, there’s some real excitement, some good cricket being played as well. The next couple of years are exciting as well. So hopefully, we can go out there and enjoy the game at the same time, and then try and make the most of what opportunity lies ahead of us,” he stressed.

“There’s a reason I won five IPL trophies. I’m not going to stop, you know, because once you get a taste of winning games, winning cups, you don’t want to stop. We’ll keep pushing as a team. We’ll keep striving for new things in the future.

“We’ve got a couple of solid tours coming up, very challenging ones as well. So, yes, for us, it never stops. Once you achieve something, you always look forward to achieving more, and that is what I’ll be doing as well. I’m pretty sure that my teammates will be thinking on the same lines as well. It’s exciting times for Indian cricket moving forward.”

With the home Test series coming up against Bangladesh and New Zealand and a mouth-watering clash against Australia at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year, Hitman’s hunger and focus will keep the Men in Blue in good stead.

Come on Paltan! Let us get our loudest cheer for Team India as they navigate their path towards the World Test Championship Final and Champions Trophy in 2025.