'We want to treat this as another game' - Rohit Sharma brushes off pressure ahead of semi-final against England

As India prepares for their crucial T20 World Cup semi-final against England in Providence, Guyana, on June 27, captain Rohit Sharma emphasized maintaining a calm team environment and clear thinking. 

Sharma emphasized treating the semi-final as just another game in the tournament, acknowledging that while everyone is aware of its significance, it's important not to keep stressing about it.

"See, we want to treat this game as another game that we have played in this tournament," he said on the eve of the match, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo. "We don't want to think about what lies ahead and what is the context of the game and all of that. Everyone knows in the back of their mind it's a semi-final. But you don't want to keep talking about it again and again and again. And not to think about what has happened in the past."

This match is a re-match of the 2022 semi-final, where India suffered a heavy ten-wicket defeat against the same opposition in Adelaide. Despite the past, Sharma believes the team is in a positive frame of mind.

"I think we are, all of us, the entire group is in a good frame of mind. We are playing well as a team, enjoying each other's company, enjoying each other's success at times as well. Yes, we've been put under pressure in certain games during this tournament as well, but I thought we responded pretty well. And that is probably because we're not thinking too far ahead.

"We want to think about how well we can play and what we can do as a team for us to achieve the result that we are looking for. Sometimes if you think too much, you then will not be able to make the decisions that you want to make on the field. So, I think it's important that we stay clear in our mind what we want to do. We have had enough conversations with the players, what is expected out of each one of us. So, it's time now to just rely on the individual instinct and then take the game forward," said Sharma.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: England vs India, Semi-Final 2 – Providence Stadium Weather Update

Assessing conditions quickly will be crucial since both teams will be playing in Providence for the first time this T20 World Cup. Sharma acknowledged that while discussing conditions might seem repetitive, they are important. The team relies on individual players to make decisions on the field, whether it's playing specific shots or delivering particular types of balls.

"I know it sounds very boring for me to talk about conditions, conditions, because that does matter a lot," Rohit said. "Because in New York, we saw what the winning score was. So, we want to be a smart cricket team. We don't want to just talk in one language, which is to just go and swing the bat.

"I think it is important for us to understand what conditions are in front of us and what we have to do. And I have spoken about experience in this group, and we rely on that experience from each player to go out and make that decision, whether it is playing the reverse sweep, whether it is bowling a yorker, whether it is bowling a bouncer. We rely on those individuals to make that decision," the Indian skipper concluded.