NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma spoke ahead of India's opening T20 World Cup match against USA with warmth and nostalgia as he reflected on India's title-winning campaign with a deep sense of pride, saying the memories extended far beyond the moment they lifted the trophy.

"We had a lot of memories. Of course, when we lifted the trophy, that was the best memory," Rohit said, adding that the journey itself defined the experience. "The entire journey that we had from day one till the last day of the tournament was itself a memory for us, something that we can always cherish."

The former India captain underlined the effort that went into the triumph, stressing how hard the team worked throughout the competition. "We worked really, really hard for that trophy. And from day one, since the day we arrived in the US and the day we left Barbados, everything was memorable for us. It was a wonderful experience," he said.

Rohit also spoke about the honour of being named an ICC ambassador, admitting it was something he did not expect so early in his career. "Look, something that I never expected so early in my career, to be an ICC ambassador. You know, it's a big honour," he said.

Revisiting the trophy again, Rohit said the feeling remained special, even in a different context. "Holding the trophy back again and putting it back in play feels great. Lifting the trophy was a wonderful feeling, but again, to put it back into play and look at these boys going and working hard for that trophy again will be an interesting thing," he said, adding that it was an experience he was sure fans would enjoy watching.

Rohit believes the tournament will once again showcase cricket at its finest. "We want to see some really good cricket being played in this tournament, which is what ICC brings. It brings the best of cricket on display," he said. "Every team who are playing, they bring the best cricket out there, and it'll be entertaining for all the spectators to watch."