Indian captain Rohit Sharma acknowledged that India’s decade-long drought of ICC titles is a cause for concern, but stated his focus is on playing his game and fostering team unity. The last time India clinched an ICC event title was in 2013, when they defeated England to secure the Champions Trophy.
The ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 presents India with another chance to end their ICC title drought, but the pressure to deliver will be immense. With the weight of tremendous expectations after their last major trophy in 2013, the Indian team must perform at their best to break the jinx.
“I’ve given this a lot of thought. My focus will be on playing to the best of my ability and bringing the team together to play cohesively. I’m confident that each of my teammates has their own effective approach to handle high-pressure tournaments like the World Cup, and I trust them to make the right decisions,” said Rohit.
“I find it’s best to focus on the immediate task at hand, rather than looking too far into the future. Concentrate on what needs to be done tomorrow, play the game to the best of your ability, and then reassess from there. Overthinking and putting undue pressure on yourself will not be great,” he added.
The Indian captain expressed his excitement about playing in New York in the inaugural match. Since 2016, India have faced West Indies in eight T20 International matches held in Lauderhill, Florida but none of the current squad members have previously played a game in New York.
“We never imagined cricket would be played in America, but now that we’re here, the atmosphere is electrifying,” Rohit further added.
“The immigration process was remarkably smooth as we cleared customs in just 10 minutes, which is highly unusual. You can feel the excitement in the air, as even the locals are captivated by this cricket tournament. When we go to the cafes, we meet locals,” he stated.