'Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have never confessed that they helped India lose the semifinals' - Sanjay Manjrekar reflects on T20 WC 2022 loss

After an impressive group-stage performance in which India secured four victories out of five matches in the Super 12s of the T20 World Cup 2022, the India-England semi-final was anticipated to be a closely-contested encounter, given the prowess and potency of both sides and their rosters of top-tier players. However, the match, particularly the second half, turned out to be a lopsided affair. England advanced to the final (which they eventually won against Pakistan) with a commanding ten-wicket victory. The Indian bowlers appeared bewildered, receiving no respite as the English openers relentlessly dominated, hitting them to all corners of the Adelaide Oval.

A significant point of contention that sparked considerable debate long after the match, and continues to do so, was the approach taken by veterans, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, after England won the toss and sent India in to bat. Their respective scores of 27 (28) and 50 (40) were widely scrutinized, particularly because of being fully aware of the explosive nature of the English batting lineup. Despite this, they opted to play conservatively, focusing on anchoring the innings for an extended period rather than taking risks, which many argued was a flawed strategy given the match's context.

In a recent discussion, former Indian cricketer, Sanjay Manjrekar, addressed the topic, focusing primarily on the positive aftermath of that match. He asserted that the humiliating loss served as a transformative moment for India as a T20 side, describing it as an eye-opener for the team. Manjrekar noted that while neither Rohit Sharma nor Virat Kohli never admitted that their innings contributed to the defeat, the current Indian team presents an entirely different proposition.

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"India is completely changed as a T20 side. That was a wake-up call for India. They may not admit it. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have never confessed that they helped India lose the semifinals, but this new India is a completely different India. What's also good for India is that England is looking a little weaker than they were a couple of years back. So, that just helps India's cause," stated Manjrekar, while speaking to ESPNcricinfo.

Virat Kohli is a little bit of a worry because he hasn't got the runs: Manjrekar

Discussing Kohli and his concerning string of low scores (66 runs in six innings), the cricketer-turned-commentator acknowledged that although Kohli is going through a rough patch, he has remained committed to his approach of taking risks and not worrying about getting out. However, Manjrekar expressed confidence that Kohli would rise to the occasion in this high-stakes match, given his impressive track record.

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"Virat Kohli is a little bit of a worry because he hasn't got the runs, but he stayed committed to this approach of taking risks and doesn't worry about getting out. Whether he'll continue to do that in the semifinal, because this is a guy who has taken up the responsibility on the big stage, he feels that he's the guy who's got to do it. Plus he's short of runs. The thing to look for is if he's hit a four or a six and if he picks a single, then you know that he's batting a little differently," added Manjrekar.