Indian skipper Rohit Sharma viewed the teams recent losses in pivotal matches of ICC tournaments as a manifestation of selfdoubt and unfavorable circumstances. He articulated these thoughts as they geared up to confront England in the semifinals of the 2024 T20 World Cup on June 27 in Guyana.
Much like the 2023 ODI World Cup Team India boasts an unbeaten run as they reach the tournaments semifinal stage. Despite their strong showings in ICC events in recent times the Men in Blue have crumbled under the pressure of knockout games. They endured a crushing 10 wicket loss against England in the previous T20 World Cup semifinal in 2022.
India also lost to Australia in the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup finals last year, extending their ICC title drought to more than a decade. They last won one at the 2013 Champions Trophy in England.
In a news conference prior of the semi-final against England, Rohit Sharma was questioned if ill luck or fear of failure had doomed India in the knockout rounds. He responded:
“It’s a bit of both. We want to treat this game as another game that we have played in this tournament. We don’t want to think about what lies ahead and what the context of the game is and all that.
“Everyone knows in the back of their mind, it’s a semi-final. You don’t want to keep talking about it again and again. And not to think about what has happened in the past.”
Rohit Sharma
India won all three full group-stage matches, followed by wins against Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Australia in the Super Eight.
“We are playing well as a team, enjoying each other’s company and success” – Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma praised the teams camaraderie and adeptness in thriving under pressure at various instances throughout the ongoing World Cup.
The upcoming encounter on Thursday will spotlight Indias fifth semifinal appearance in nine T20 World Cup editions enriching the anticipation and fervor for the match.
“I think the entire group is in a good frame of mind. We are playing well as a team, enjoying each other’s company and success. So I think it’s important to carry on what we have been doing in this tournament.
“Yes, we have been put under pressure at times and I thought we responded pretty well. That is probably because we are not thinking too far ahead.”
Rohit Sharma
India’s last T20 World Cup semi-final victory came in 2014, when they overcame South Africa before falling to Sri Lanka in the final.
The Asian giants were defeated in their previous two semi-final appearances, in 2016 and 2022, by the West Indies and England.