Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian cricket team, recently opened up about the famous quote he made during a match: Koi Garden mein nahi ghoomega, which loosely translates to “No one should stroll around like they’re in a garden.” His remark caught everyone’s attention during the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam back in February 2024. While the match was going on, the stump mic picked up Rohit’s voice urging his teammates to amp up their energy on the field.
After more than a year, he finally shared what was going through his mind when he made that statement. Rohit explained that he felt it was crucial for the players to really step up their game since the match was tightly contested. He recalled, “We were in Vizag, and I couldn’t believe my eyes. The over ended, and it looked like my teammates were just ambling around as if they were in a park. Nobody was running, and there was an unsettling lack of urgency while we were fielding. I was positioned in the slip cordon, and our spinners were working hard from both sides. The tension in the match was palpable; it was really important for us to secure a win.”
He noted that he had already communicated to the team earlier in the day that they needed to give a little extra effort, but instead, they seemed to be joking around and taking things lightly. “At that moment in the game, we desperately needed a wicket. I figured I needed to get everyone on their toes,” he said.
India managed to take home the victory by 106 runs, leveling the five-match series at 1-1. Rohit reflected on what he saw just before he made his statement: “I watched this go on for two or three overs, and I thought to myself, ‘This can’t continue. This isn’t how we should be playing cricket.’ Everyone was just moving along with the flow, and I could feel my frustration building. I had to step in and tell them to snap out of it. There was an ongoing partnership between the opposing batsmen, and I was itching to break it. It’s during crucial moments like these that the team needs to come together and put in a solid effort. I didn’t like seeing everyone so wrapped up in their own thoughts while the situation demanded our collective focus,” he added.
Overall, Rohit’s candidness sheds light on the pressures and responsibilities of being a captain, especially in nail-biting matches where every player’s mindset matters.
