"It's a bit of both" - Rohit Sharma attributes India's knockout stage failures to fear of failure and bad luck ahead of 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma felt that the side had been undone by a fear of failure and bad luck in their recent knockout stage defeats in ICC events. He shared these thoughts ahead of their 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final clash against England in Guyana on June 27.

Much like the 2023 ODI World Cup, Team India have been unbeaten thus far in the tournament entering the semi-final stage. Yet, despite several strong displays through ICC events over the past few years, the Men in Blue have succumbed to the pressure of the knockout games. They suffered a 10-wicket defeat against England in the previous T20 World Cup semi-final in 2022.

India also lost to Australia in the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup final last year, extending their drought without an ICC title to over 10 years. They last won one in the 2013 Champions Trophy in England.

In the press conference ahead of the semi-final against England, Rohit was asked whether bad luck or fear of failure has doomed India in the knockout games. He answered:

"It's a bit of both. We want to treat this game as another game that we have played in this tournament. We don't want to think about what lies ahead and what the context of the game is and all that.

"Everyone knows in the back of their mind, it's a semi-final. You don't want to keep talking about it again and again. And not to think about what has happened in the past."

India won all three completed group-stage encounters, followed by victories over Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Australia in the Super Eight.

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"We are playing well as a team, enjoying each other's company and success" - Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma praised the side for playing together as a unit and responding well under pressure at different times during the ongoing World Cup.

The England clash on Thursday will be India's fifth semi-final appearance in nine T20 World Cup editions.

"I think the entire group is in a good frame of mind. We are playing well as a team, enjoying each other's company and success. So I think it's important to carry on what we have been doing in this tournament.

"Yes, we have been put under pressure at times and I thought we responded pretty well. That is probably because we are not thinking too far ahead," said Rohit.

The last time India won a T20 World Cup semi-final was in 2014 when they defeated South Africa before losing to Sri Lanka in the grand finale.

The Asian giants suffered defeats in their previous two semi-finals in the 2016 and 2022 editions to the West Indies and England.