India's aggressive mentality result of loss to England in 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final: Nasser Hussain

Nasser Hussain believes that India's aggressive approach, especially with the willow, is a result of their crushing 10-wicket defeat in the semifinals of the 2022 T20 World Cup.

The Men in Blue have played a swashbuckling brand of cricket during the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, where they have not allowed the opposition bowlers to exert pressure for long periods. Rohit Sharma has led the team from the front and his whirlwind innings against Australia in the last game knocked the stuffing out of Mitchell Starc and Co. Hussain opined that the change in mentality for the Men in Blue happened after the loss to England a couple of years ago in Adelaide and was noticed for the first time at an ICC event during the ODI World Cup last year.

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"You know… I think the change in mentality happened after that T20 World Cup semi-final in Adelaide. And that was noticeable for India in the 50-over World Cup. And also through this tournament. They couldn't quite do it in New York because of the pitches. The pitches were poor; it wasn't the kind of surface to go out and express yourself. But as their batters have got a bit of confidence – some of them, not all – they have gone back to that mentality and it has completely led by Rohit Sharma," Hussain said while speaking to SKY Cricket.

Hussain hailed Rohit for his stupendous knock against 2021 champions Australia. The 37-year-old smashed 92 off just 41 balls, hitting seven fours and eight sixes. This turned out to be the second-highest score by an Indian batter in T20 World Cups after Suresh Raina's 101 in the 2010 edition against South Africa.

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"If you're going to walk the talk as captain – and he did before the Australia game. He said he is not worried about fifties and hundreds. I am worried about what comes after the scores, the balls faced, the strike rate. And that was one of the great white-ball innings I've seen played against Australia. Elegant. Absolute brutal elegance at its best. Taking down Starc, slog-sweeping Cummins, inside-out over extra cover. That was one of the best innings visually I have ever seen. Just outstanding," said the former England skipper.

India are all set to square off against England in the second semi-final at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Thursday, June 27.