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Xtra Time Web Desk: India captain Rohit Sharma has candidly acknowledged that the team’s struggles in big matches have often been due to a mix of fear of failure and bad luck. Speaking on the eve of India’s crucial T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final against England in Guyana, Sharma emphasized that the team is adopting a fresh outlook, ready to tackle the pressure head-on.

Rohit Sharma admitted that India's past failures in big matches were influenced by nerves and unfavorable circumstances. "It's a bit of both," Sharma said when asked if the team's struggles were due to fear of failure or bad luck. "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."

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Sharma stressed the importance of entering the semi-final with a clear and fearless mindset. "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," he added.

India has demonstrated their readiness to handle pressure and shed the fear of failure throughout the tournament. In their Super 8 game against Australia, India played fearless cricket, with Rohit Sharma leading from the front. Sharma's explosive 92 off just 41 balls helped India post a formidable 205 on the board, showcasing their aggressive and confident approach.

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India is set to face England in the second semi-final at the Providence Stadium in Guyana, a rematch of the 2022 semi-final where England secured a dominant victory. Despite a heartbreaking defeat to Australia in the ODI World Cup 2023 final, Sharma’s leadership and the team's new outlook promise a focused and fearless approach in this crucial match.

As India steps onto the field on Thursday, fans and critics alike will be watching to see if the team can overcome past demons and seize the moment on the big stage.