India’s Aspiration to Surpass Previous World Cup Performance
India’s cricket team is looking forward to improving upon their previous World Cup performance, where they fell short in the semi-finals against the same opponent they are set to face.
Living in the Present, Not the Past
Rohit Sharma, India’s captain, has shed light on the team’s mindset, emphasizing that they are not overly concerned with past victories. The team’s focus is firmly on the present and the challenges that lie ahead.
“The beauty of this team is that half of the players weren’t even born when we won our first World Cup, and half weren’t playing the game when we won our second in 2011,” Rohit stated on the eve of the semi-final match against New Zealand.
“This current group of players is very much focused on what is happening today and what could happen tomorrow. They are not discussing past victories; their focus is on improving as players and contributing to the team,” he added.
Focus on the Present: A Winning Strategy
Rohit believes that this focus on the present is a positive attribute. “What you achieve today sets you up for what you can achieve tomorrow. The group of players we have is very much focused on that process,” he said.
Preparing for the Challenge: New Zealand
New Zealand has proven to be a formidable opponent in recent World Cups, consistently making it to the semi-finals and finals. Rohit highlighted their disciplined approach and India’s preparations to face this challenge.
“New Zealand is probably the most disciplined team in terms of their game strategy. They play smart cricket and understand their opposition well. They’ve been very consistent for many years now, playing in the semi-finals and finals of nearly all ICC tournaments since 2015,” Rohit noted.
“We understand what they bring to the table and how they play their cricket. We have been closely monitoring all the teams to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and we plan our game accordingly,” he concluded.