'I hope this is just the start': Rohit on India's recent global triumphs

India are the defending champions in multiple global ICC competitions – the women's World Cup, men's Champions Trophy, men's T20 World Cup, men's Under-19 World Cup and women's Under-19 World Cup. Rohit Sharma hopes it marks the beginning of a phase of global dominance by Indian teams.

"I am very happy and very proud to see what we have been seeing for the last couple of years now. To come out with flying colours and achieve what we have achieved, not just the men's team but also the women's team winning that World Cup in Mumbai was fantastic to watch," Rohit, himself a T20 World Cup (in 2024) winning captain, said.

"Recently, the men's team, what they did was phenomenal. I hope this is just the start, there is no looking back from here because once you get that momentum… we often talk about momentum and now both the men's and women's teams have that momentum. All I hope is that we carry this momentum forward."

Rohit, who was at the launch of the T20 Mumbai League for women, also spoke about the role of luck in a cricketer's journey and how being noticed at the right time can be just as crucial as talent and hard work.

"Right from U-14s you got to be lucky; of course you need the talent to find success but you also got to be lucky to be at the right time at the right place for people to notice you. Sometimes you can be as talented as you can be but if people are not watching you, then you can be slightly unlucky. You got to be lucky as well but there is no substitute to hard work and that is not just with the Mumbaikars but also with the players who are representing the country," Rohit further said.

"They are going through this tough grind to find success. But (I am) very happy with the way Mumbai cricket is shaping up, also with what T20 Mumbai has done. A lot of young cricketers we saw who played this T20 Mumbai have gone on to play the IPL team and of course the national team as well so it is a big, big platform. I am sure the guys who are going to play will understand that this format is wonderful and I am happy that we are doing this again after a successful last season."

The eight-team Season 4 of the T20 Mumbai League for men and the three-team inaugural season of the women's competition will commence after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League season on May 31.