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Rushikesh Magar, MBA 2023-35, Vinod Gupta School of Management, IIT Kharagpur —————————————————————————————————————-
Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma, addressing the press on November 14, emphasized the need for his team to concentrate on the present and look ahead, particularly in light of the haunting memory of their 2019 World Cup semifinal loss to New Zealand. The Men in Blue are gearing up for a critical rematch with the Kiwis on November 15 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, and Sharma highlighted the team’s dedication to ongoing improvement. In the pre match press conference, Sharma downplayed reflections on the 2019 World Cup, stating that 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. This underscores the team’s forward-looking mindset. Sharma dismissed comparisons to India’s previous World Cup victories in 1983 and 2011, noting that the current players are more focused on the present context. He highlighted that many weren’t even born when India won in 1983, and half the squad wasn’t actively playing in 2011. The captain emphasized continuous improvement, with a primary focus on the ongoing campaign.
The 2019 semifinal loss against New Zealand marked the final international match for MS Dhoni. Despite the defeat, Sharma expressed the team’s determination to use the upcoming semifinal as an opportunity for redemption. India enters the semifinal as the favorite, with an undefeated record in the current World Cup—nine wins in as many league-stage matches, securing the top position in the points table. New Zealand, led by Kane Williamson, finished fourth on the points table, with five wins out of nine games. In their previous encounter on October 22, India emerged victorious, comfortably chasing down the target of 276 runs set by the Black Caps. As the cricketing world anticipates the rematch, Rohit Sharma’s leadership and the team’s unwavering focus on the present suggest a determined outlook as they aim for redemption and a coveted spot in the World Cup final.
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