In a candid reflection on India‘s performance in the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, former cricketer Nasser Husain heaped praise on Rohit Sharma, hailing him as the true hero and a catalyst for changing the culture of the Indian cricket team.
According to Husain, the turning point came during a conversation with Dinesh Karthik (DK), who recalled their semifinal at Adelaide. India played weak and timid cricket, resulting in a below-par score in the T20 semifinal, which England capitalized on, winning by 10 wickets. DK conveyed the need for a change in approach, drawing parallels with England’s captain Eoin Morgan.
Nasser Hussain said
“So the headlines tomorrow will be about Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Mohammad Shami. But the genuine hero of the Indian side, the actual man that has changed the culture of the Indian side is Rohit Sharma.Â
We had DK with us, and he says after that we were there for semifinal at the Adelaide where they played weak, timid cricket. Prodded along in the T20 semifinal, got a below par score and England knocked them down, won by 10 wickets. He said to DK they we will have to change. A bit like Morgs.”Â
However, Husain emphasized that talking about change is one thing, but executing it on the field is another. In this context, Rohit Sharma emerged as the genuine hero for India. The skipper’s leadership and commitment to transforming the team’s approach were evident in the knockout stage, where India faced a must-win situation.
“One thing’s doing that, saying that and other thing is walking the walk. The real hero today is Rohit Sharma. Group stage is one thing, knock out game can you do again, the skipper showed the dressing room that we are carry along exactly the same way.”
Rohit Sharma’s influence and determination played a pivotal role in maintaining a consistent and positive mindset within the dressing room. The captain’s actions spoke louder than words, showcasing that the team would continue to carry themselves with the same confidence and conviction in crucial knockout matches as they did in the group stage.
As India progresses in the tournament, Rohit Sharma’s leadership and impact on the team’s culture stand out as defining factors, earning him recognition as the unsung hero behind India’s success in the World Cup.
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