On November 14, the eve of the ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final between India and New Zealand, Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma was asked whether the team thinks about their last World Cup semi-final loss against the Kiwis. Sharma replied that the team’s focus is on the present, and that they are focused on what they can do today.
“In the back of your mind, you know what has happened in the past but what has happened in the past is the past,” Rohit Sharma said. “What you can do today and tomorrow is what we usually talk about. I don’t think there is much debate or talk about what happened 10 years ago or the last World Cup.”
Sharma also noted that the team’s current World Cup campaign cannot be compared to 1983 – when India won its maiden title – as well as 2011 when it last lifted the trophy under the then captain MS Dhoni’s leadership.
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“Half of the guys were not even born when we won our first World Cup (1983) and then when we won our second World Cup (2011), half of the guys were not even playing the game. For us, the current crop of players are very much into what can happen today. I don’t see them talking about how we won the last World Cup or the first. The focus is on how they can get better and what are the things they need to improve. The focus is always on the present,” he said.
India is considered to be the favorite moving into the semi-final clash in this World Cup, as the team is undefeated in the tournament so far. The Rohit Sharma-led side has won nine out of the nine league-stage matches, finishing at the top of the points table.
New Zealand, led by Kane Williamson, finished at the fourth on the points table with wins in five out of their nine games. During their league-stage match against India in Dharamshala on October 22, the Black Caps were defeated by four wickets.
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The Indian side had comfortably chased the target of 276 runs in 48 overs. India will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run and qualify for the World Cup final when they face New Zealand in the semi-final. The team is the favorite, but they will be wary of the Kiwis, who are a dangerous side.
