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Rohit Sharma insisted India are unfazed by past near-misses and will retain the demeanour that carried them to nine wins from nine in the World Cup group stage into their semi-final against New Zealand.<\/p>\n
The 1983 and 2011 champions have endured a decade-long trophy drought on the global stage, eliminated in the semi-finals of the last two 50-over World Cups as well as at last year\u2019s T20 equivalent.<\/p>\n
Accused of failing to show up when it matters most, India have nevertheless thrilled their home fans in recent weeks by sweeping all before them, by far the dominant side heading into the knockout rounds.<\/p>\n
Rohit therefore sees no reason to alter the game-plan ahead of a Mumbai showdown against perpetual underdogs New Zealand, who upset the odds to defeat India at the same stage four years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn India, if you are an Indian cricketer, then whatever the format, whatever the tournament, there is always pressure,\u201d the 36-year-old batter said. \u201cBut we have handled that pressure very well in the last nine games.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happens from outside will always continue. We don\u2019t really have to change too much, being that same mindset as we were before the start of the World Cup. We will focus on playing good cricket.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis current crop of players are very much into what is happening today, what can happen tomorrow. I don\u2019t see them talking about how we won the last World Cup, how we won our first World Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cHalf of the guys were not even born when we won our first World Cup. And then when we won our second World Cup in 2011, half of the guys were not even playing the game. The focus is on the present.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rohit and several team-mates who will play at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday featured in the 2019 defeat to the Black Caps, who also beat India in the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2021.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the back of your mind, you know what has happened in the past,\u201d Rohit added. \u201cBut what has happened in the past is the past. It\u2019s not going to determine too much about what will happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s much debate or much talk about what happened 10 years ago or five years ago or the last World Cup as well.\u201d<\/p>\n