India captain Rohit Sharma previews ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final against New Zealand
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00:00 When a big match comes, everyone is well prepared, the players are good.
00:05 So, in the end, absorbing the pressure and playing openly, is it what everyone is dependent on?
00:12 Yes, look, from the first game to the last game, the last game we played in Bangalore,
00:23 whether it's a league match, semi-final or final, whenever you play the World Cup, there is always pressure.
00:32 This is obvious because the World Cup is a World Cup, that's why there is pressure.
00:40 But, look, in the last 9 games, we have handled that thing quite well.
00:46 From the first game to the last game, which we played in Bangalore,
00:53 the boys responded well to that thing.
00:57 We were just focusing on our game, we had to play good cricket.
01:03 What we did, in the future, we will focus on playing good cricket.
01:10 Because, look, if you are an Indian cricketer, in any format, in any tournament,
01:16 there is always pressure because you hear the same voice from everywhere that we have to win the match tomorrow.
01:22 We have to score 100 runs, we have to win 5 wickets.
01:25 So, all these boys, whether they have played 200-250 matches or 5 or 10 matches,
01:32 they have to go through all this.
01:35 So, I think, in terms of pressure, it becomes mandatory for Indian cricketers that there is always pressure.
01:42 But, we have tried so much in all these years that we will keep that thing aside.
01:50 Our game, our strategy, the way we have to play, we have to focus on that more.
01:58 Because, what happens from the outside, will continue to happen, it will not stop.
02:01 So, it is important for us to focus on the game,
02:05 focus on the challenges that will come from the opposition.
02:16 Everyone was talking about 5 bowling options, it is less, if someone doesn't get an off day, they will get stuck.
02:21 You have finished everything, you have done 9 bowling options in one match.
02:26 No, look, we had to try that when Hardik got injured, our combination changed.
02:38 And even before that, in the entire tournament, from game no.1,
02:46 our effort was to get other people to bowl, when to get it done.
02:51 It was also necessary to get a situation.
02:54 In the last game, we got a situation where we could try with some things.
02:58 So, it is good, I mean, there are options, but I hope, we don't need that thing.
03:04 Thank you.
03:05 Rohit, Happy Diwali.
03:13 Happy Diwali.
03:14 You know, we as media, we talk about history, what happened in the last match, match before that.
03:20 Do you guys think about history when you, you know, get into the field or while preparing?
03:26 Do you think what happened in the last World Cup, what happened in the World Championship final?
03:30 Or you just completely set aside and focus on this match?
03:33 How does your preparation go?
03:34 Honestly, I mean, look, that's the beauty of this team.
03:38 Half of the guys were not even born when we won our first World Cup.
03:44 And then when we won our second World Cup in 2011, half of the guys were not even playing the game.
03:52 You know, so, I mean, for us, you know, this current crop of players,
03:59 they are very much into what is happening today, what can happen tomorrow.
04:04 You know, those are the things they try and focus on.
04:08 You know, they really, I don't see them talking about, you know, how we won the last World Cup,
04:16 how we won our first World Cup.
04:18 The focus is on how they can get better as a player, what they can bring to the team
04:25 and what are the things they need to improve.
04:28 So that's the beauty of the crop of players we have at this point in time.
04:33 You know, the focus is always on the present.
04:35 And that, I believe, is a very, very good thing.
04:38 You know, going into a tournament like this, you know, from game number one,
04:43 the focus has always been on what we can achieve today.
04:46 What you achieve today sets you up for what you can achieve tomorrow.
04:51 So I think the crop of players that we have is, you know, very much focused on that process.
04:57 How about you or Virat, the experienced crop?
04:59 I mean, people who have played this four years ago, played them, in between played them.
05:04 What about you guys?
05:05 No, I think it's very, you know, you obviously in the back of your mind,
05:09 you know what has happened in the past.
05:11 But what has happened in the past is the past.
05:13 You know, what you can do today, what you can do tomorrow is what, you know, we usually talk about.
05:22 So I don't think there's much debate or much talk about, you know,
05:28 what happened 10 years ago or 5 years ago or the last World Cup as well.
05:33 Rohit bhai, we have seen from the Asia Cup to the World Cup,
05:40 a team environment has become very good,
05:42 the way the best fielder is given the prize and all the activities that are happening,
05:47 which we may not have seen before.
05:49 What would you say about the new environment that has been created in your leadership?
05:54 No, look, our conscious effort has been on this thing that the team's environment should not change based on the results.
06:06 What we have to create around the environment of the team or in the team, we have to do that.
06:12 That is mandatory.
06:13 And this cannot be done by one or two boys.
06:17 It is necessary for all the boys to come together, including the support staff.
06:22 So, like we were in Dharamshala, we had a 5-6 day break there.
06:28 We stayed in Dharamshala for 2 days.
06:30 We did a lot of team activity there.
06:32 A fashion show has also been held, but no one knows about it.
06:37 But it's a good thing that no one outside knows about it.
06:40 Tell us about it.
06:41 No, no, I can't tell you that.
06:43 Let some things be with us.
06:45 So, this is the environment of the team that we always talk about.
06:54 This is the environment where we like to be relaxed.
06:58 And all the boys like this thing a lot.
07:00 Because you know that when you come to the ground, there will be pressure of performance,
07:07 pressure to win the match.
07:08 That cannot be changed.
07:10 Because once you reach the ground, it is up to the individuals how they want to take it forward.
07:17 But before that, we did everything we could to keep the team's environment easy in this tournament.
07:29 And the team's atmosphere is very good, very relaxed.
07:35 So, this is a good thing.
07:37 Where did you start? I mean, when we are seeing the pictures, where did you get the idea to start?
07:42 In the last two or three months?
07:43 No, see, we went to Australia in the last World Cup.
07:47 We started there in the same way.
07:49 We reached Australia 10 or 15 days ago.
07:53 And we had set up a small camp in Perth for 7 or 8 days.
07:58 And there is an island very close to Perth.
08:03 We went there.
08:04 We went away from cricket.
08:06 So, wherever we get a chance, we try to do activities like this,
08:12 to keep the team's environment light.
08:15 And it is not that it is happening in the last two years.
08:18 It used to happen before too.
08:20 But now, I don't know.
08:23 It is more visible now or I don't know.
08:26 Rohit, it is not an easy job to be the Indian captain.
08:31 A lot of things go on in your head.
08:33 And right now, when you reflect back, look back,
08:36 as an individual, little boy playing at this ground,
08:39 now you will be leading the side out in the semi-final.
08:41 So, do you get time to reflect on your individual journey as well?
08:45 How special it is going to be?
08:46 And how close you are getting to that unfinished business you spoke about in Chennai?
08:51 I don't think there is so much time to think about it.
08:53 The focus is on the game, what we have in hand tomorrow.
08:58 I seriously have no time to think about my journey,
09:01 what it has been in the past.
09:04 Probably after 19th November, I will think about it.
09:07 But right now, it is just business and pure business of getting the job done for the team.
09:13 Obviously, it is such a high-profile tournament.
09:21 Everybody is watching.
09:23 And you want to display good cricket as an Indian team.
09:27 And that is what we have done in this tournament so far, which is very, very good.
09:32 But again, we know the importance of this week.
09:36 For us, we don't really have to change too much,
09:41 being that same mindset as we were before the start of the World Cup.
09:46 I know that at the start of the World Cup, when you were asked about the unfinished business,
09:51 you said you don't want to be desperate and finding a balance.
09:54 You also need a little bit of luck through the tournament.
09:57 You are here to win two games away from winning the World Cup as a captain.
10:01 How do you reflect on that part of it?
10:04 Getting through to the qualifying stage,
10:10 then the semis and then the finals, there are processes that you have to do.
10:15 Because in the league games, you have nine games that you have to play well to qualify.
10:21 So our first focus was to qualify from the league stages through to the semifinals.
10:28 And nine games is a lot of games.
10:31 Literally two or three bilateral series, to be honest.
10:37 So you have to break it down into games, different venues.
10:42 You have to break it down into different strategies as well,
10:45 different opposition you play.
10:48 So for us, it was all about how we can break it down into parts and then take it forward.
10:56 When you are playing nine games, nine different opposition, nine different venues,
11:01 you have to adapt to different strategies, policies, ideas, methods of getting the job done for the team.
11:08 I think we did that really well.
11:11 The first of the tournament, if you see, I think we chased the first five games.
11:19 And then the next four games, we batted first.
11:23 So I think in terms of the areas that we wanted to cover,
11:27 I think we've covered almost every bit of it.
11:31 But again, like I said, we do understand the importance of this week.
11:36 But for us, I don't think we need to do anything different from what we've been doing in this tournament.
11:42 There will be challenges thrown at you at different stages of the game.
11:45 You just got to respond. You just got to front up and get through that situation.
11:52 Rohit, New Zealand probably gave you one of your toughest games in the group phase.
11:58 What's impressed them? What have you been impressed by, by their play?
12:04 Yeah, look, I mean, overall, whenever we've come up against New Zealand,
12:09 obviously probably the most disciplined team in terms of how they want to play the game.
12:17 And, you know, they play their cricket very smartly.
12:21 They understand the opposition's quite well.
12:25 You know, having obviously having played with a lot of our players in different stages of their careers,
12:34 different tournaments, they do understand the mentality of the opposition.
12:39 And it is the same for us as well.
12:41 But yeah, I mean, whenever we've played against them, you know, the most disciplined team, I would say.
12:48 And yeah, I mean, you know, they've been very consistent for so many years now,
12:55 playing semifinals and the finals of probably all ICC tournaments in the last, I don't know,
13:02 maybe six, seven years from 2015 onwards, if I'm not wrong.
13:08 So, yeah, you know, we and we do understand what they bring to the table and how they play their cricket.
13:14 We've been closely following all the teams as to, you know, where their strength lies, where their weaknesses lies.
13:21 And based on that, we try and go out there and play the game.
13:25 [Question]
13:53 No, I mean, look, for me, the 50-year World Cup is the top of the table.
13:57 I've said it at the start of it.
14:00 You know, I am not somebody who's going to, you know, say this format is better than that format,
14:08 because for me, all three formats is equally important, because you're playing for your country in all these formats.
14:14 And it's a very rare privilege that anyone can have of playing for your country.
14:21 So I don't believe in prioritizing X, Y, Z.
14:25 I think all three formats to me is equally important.
14:28 And, you know, in the tournaments, as in this tournament as well, you've seen it like it's been a fantastic tournament, without a doubt.
14:36 A lot of teams have come through.
14:39 A lot of teams have challenged opposition.
14:43 And that clearly shows that ranking doesn't matter.
14:46 To be honest, anyone can beat anyone on that particular day.
14:50 If you don't show up well, if you don't play to your potential, teams will beat you.
14:55 So you've got to be ready for it.
14:57 And we saw it in this tournament that every team is capable.
15:02 And, you know, at the end of the day, you're talking about the World Cup.
15:04 So every team will come fighting hard to get that victory.
15:08 So I think it's been a fantastic tournament.
15:11 [Question]
15:12 Hello, Rohit. How much important toss will be, actually?
15:20 Because, you know, in this venue, the first inning's score is 350+, and the second inning's score is less than half.
15:30 And excepting Max's miraculous innings, all of the teams who batted first won.
15:36 So how much important the toss is?
15:38 Look, I mean, honestly, I've played a lot of cricket here.
15:41 This four or five games is not going to tell a lot about what Wankhede is.
15:48 I don't want to talk too much about what Wankhede is.
15:51 But, yeah, I certainly believe that toss is not the factor.
15:56 [Question]
15:57 Rohit, you said you don't want to talk too much about – I don't want to think too much about what happened in the previous semifinals.
16:02 But did you learn anything in those games last year against England, last time against New Zealand, or before that,
16:09 that you might want to implement as captain tomorrow?
16:12 Yeah, no, obviously, when you don't come through, obviously there's a lot of learnings,
16:17 what went wrong, what as a team we could have done better, and things like that.
16:23 But obviously now it's a completely different set-up, different set of players as well from what it was in 2019.
16:32 So, yeah, obviously we have taken our learnings from the previous World Cups.
16:38 But again, like I said, there were different individuals in that game, different individuals now.
16:44 So I think things are moving pretty well at this point in time.
16:49 And we would just like to continue in that fashion.
16:53 Again, like I said before as well, what has happened in the past is not going to determine too much about what will happen tomorrow.
17:02 [Question]
17:03 Hi, Rohit bhai, all the best for the semifinals.
17:05 Thanks.
17:06 [Question]
17:07 Rohit bhai, whenever there's a big match, like a knockout match, as a captain,
17:10 do you also have a sleepless night of how you're going to play tomorrow?
17:13 Does it go through your head all night?
17:15 No, it's fine. I don't live alone. I have my family with me.
17:21 So my mind goes here and there, which is a very good thing.
17:28 When I go to my hotel room, we completely stay away from cricket.
17:34 We discuss a lot of other things.
17:36 So it's a good thing.
17:37 You think a lot about cricket, yes.
17:40 But when you have time, when you have a chance to not think, then you shouldn't think.
17:45 Because even if you think all day, what will happen?
17:49 So it's important that when you have a chance to think about something else, then think about something else.
17:56 [Question]
17:59 Rohit, you've been part of many Indian teams where you've played with many of the greats.
18:06 From your point of view, is this the most dominant Indian team that you've been part of in terms of balance, form and performance?
18:16 See, I was not part of the 2011 World Cup, which we won.
18:24 I was part of 2015 and 2019.
18:29 I thought it was very hard to say which team was better and which team wasn't.
18:36 Eventually, it's the Indian team, so I'm not going to say that 2019 was better than 2023 or 2015.
18:44 I think what you can see from this team, all I can say is the roles are pretty clear for each and every one of them.
18:53 And they exactly know what to go out there and do.
18:56 And it makes it a little easier for the players as well to understand what is expected out of them and what role they need to perform.
19:05 I'm not saying the role clarity was not there in 2019, because I was not part of that main discussion of when you assign a role.
19:15 It's mainly the captain and coach who decides what he wants from X, Y, Z players.
19:21 So I was not part of that. Obviously, I am now, which I think is pretty clear as to what we want each individual to go out there and do for us.
19:32 So I think in terms of rating the teams, I don't think it would be the right thing for me to do that or say this is a dominant team.
19:44 I think all the teams I was part of, I think they were quite dominant. That is what I would say.
19:51 But yeah, you've got to be... Now the time has come that you need a little bit of luck as well to go your way.
20:00 Obviously, we're going to be brave enough. Hopefully, fortune favors the brave.
20:07 Rohit, I want to ask you about Kuldeep Yadav and the Dharamshala game against New Zealand, where they put him under pressure,
20:15 but he came back really strongly through the second half of his spell.
20:19 That performance and what Kuldeep was in 2019 and now, as a captain, his resilience and how much he's come on as a player.
20:31 Could you talk about that a bit?
20:32 Yeah. Kuldeep obviously missed out on a few games in between, but since he's made a comeback,
20:42 you see a different sort of Kuldeep in terms of his attitude, wants to front the situation, front the challenge,
20:50 take the responsibility upon him, all those kind of things. I mean, I can clearly see with him,
20:57 he's not afraid to get hit because, like you mentioned about that particular game,
21:03 it was a perfect example where the batters were trying to put him under pressure,
21:07 but he eventually got those couple of wickets for us.
21:12 With him, it doesn't matter that he goes for runs, but his job, he knows that he has to go out there and get the team into good situations,
21:24 try for breakthroughs if there's a partnership, and he's not afraid of getting hit.
21:33 That's the beauty of spin bowling, I think. If you're afraid, then things don't fall in place in terms of the strategy of the team as well.
21:44 You don't mind getting hit in a few overs, but the will to come back and finish off really strong is what matters.
21:53 That is what he did in Dharamshala. They were in good position at one point, and they probably ended up getting 270-280 between that.
22:03 That was a good comeback in the last 10 overs. Like we always say, the game is not over until the last ball is bowled.
22:10 Even though you get hit for a few boundaries, a few sixes here and there in a few overs,
22:16 there are 10 overs, 60 balls that you have to bowl and you have to come back.
22:22 That is the attitude that Kuldeep has. Even if he's put under pressure at the beginning, he knows he has to come back and he will come back.
22:33 What is the mantra or principle that you swear by as a leader in your dressing room?
22:48 Second, if you look back at the campaign so far, what's the one moment possibly on the sidelines,
22:54 something off the field that probably brings the widest smile on your face?
22:58 I don't have a mantra as such. I just believe that as a captain, if you've decided that this is how you want to play as a team,
23:12 then there needs to be clarity amongst the team.
23:15 If a certain player wants to go out there and play in the way that you want him to play, then you've got to back that player to the hilt.
23:24 That is what we've done. We've backed certain players because we've given them a different role.
23:30 If they perform the role, well and good, but even if they don't, which will not come off in every game,
23:36 we've got to back that player and tell him that we stand by him.
23:40 That is something that I believe in and I want to do it as much as I can from my side.
23:46 I've also got to give credit to Rahul Bhai as well, to buy into that thought of not changing too much when the player doesn't come off with that plan.
23:58 That is something that we have stuck by right from the beginning and we will continue to do that even in the future as well.
24:07 That is something that I feel is quite important and giving freedom to each player to go out there and perform their role.
24:14 That is also another important aspect of the game and how you want to play as a team.
24:21 These are the two things, role clarity and giving the guys that freedom and going there and expressing themselves.
24:29 One moment I would say was probably the last game where all four of us bowled.
24:35 The crowd enjoyed pretty much and I'm pretty sure the fans across the world who would have watched us bowl would have loved that as well.