The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 has reached its business end after the completion of the 45 league-stage matches.
The four semi-finalists have been locked. While India will take on New Zealand in Mumbai on November 15, Australia and South Africa will square off in Kolkata on November 16.
The India versus New Zealand clash is going to be a re-match of the 2019 World Cup semi-final, where the Kiwis had defeated the Virat Kohli-led side by 18 runs at Old Trafford.
On the eve of the knockout fixture, India skipper Rohit Sharma addressed a press conference, where he said luck plays a big part in such games and hoped that it will be on their side.
"Time has come for luck to favour you and fortune favours the brave," Rohit told reporters.
India were the most dominant side in the league stage as they won all their nine games comprehensively.
Rohit said the hosts will not be required to make big changes in regards to their mindset and approach for the semi-final clash.
"I don't think we need to do anything different than what we have been doing," he stated.
The captain said pressure has always been a part of the journey for them and it will be no different in the semifinal.
"Be it a league match or semifinal, the pressure is always there in a World Cup match. We have handled it well from the first game to the last. The team has responded well," Rohit said.
"We are focusing on playing good cricket in the next two games. Pressure is always there on us as Indian cricketers. The need is to focus on the game and not on the pressure and challenges from the other side," he added.
Rohit expressed his respect for the Kiwi side as he described them as the "most disciplined" outfit in the competition.
"New Zealand (are) probably (the) most disciplined team. They play smart cricket, they understand the opposition very well. They understand the mentality of the opposition. They have been very consistent playing semis and finals of all ICC tournaments," he said.
Rohit Sharma acknowledged that while the pressure has been there on his side to emulate the feat of 1983 and 2011 World Cup-winning Indian teams, he said the only aspect that the current players are interested in is self-improvement.
"That's the beauty of this team. We were not even born when we won the World Cup for the first time. Half of them weren't playing cricket when we won it the last time.
"I don't see them talking about how we won the first or the last World Cup. The focus is on getting better and what we can do to improve. Focus is always on the present," he remarked.
(With PTI Inputs)
