"Current crop of players don't talk about how we won World Cups in 1983, 2011": Rohit Sharma ahead of semifinal clash
Mumbai: Ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal against New Zealand, Indian captain Rohit Sharma acknowledged the inherent pressure in every World Cup match. He said that his team's focus is on putting aside external factors and concentrating on the game and the present moment.
India will take on New Zealand in the first semifinal of the ICC Cricket World Cup at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Wednesday.
As Kiwi aim to secure their third consecutive World Cup final appearance after 2015 and 2019, India is determined to overcome the knockout barrier that has eluded them since their last major ICC title in 2013.
Additionally, the challenge is heightened by facing a team that has historically posed significant challenges in must-win matches.
Ahead of the match, skipper Rohit said in the pre-match press conference, «See right from the first match we played, there ought to be a lot of pressure since these are World Cup matches. We did well on-field and handled the pressure well. In upcoming matches too we are looking to play good cricket the way we have played so far.
We would like to focus on our game and the opposition.»
«There is noise from outside that we have to win the game, score a 100, get a five-wicket haul. We are used to such things. We are focusing on the game and the challenges of opposition in hand,» he added.
On players like Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav and even himself bowling in the final league game against the Netherlands, Rohit said that from match one of the World Cup, there was a focus on creating more bowling options and letting other non-regular bowlers roll their arm.
«When Hardik Pandya was injured, our combination was disturbed. We have our options but I hope we do not need
