India skipper Rohit Sharma said he has been dealing with the pressure of ending the team's ICC trophy jinx ahead of their T20 World Cup 2024 opening match against Ireland on June 5, Wednesday.
India's last ICC event win came back in 2013 when they defeated England to win the Champions Trophy. Since then, India has reached the final 5 times in all three formats of the game with the latest being a heartbreaking loss to Australia in the ODI World Cup 2023.
Rohit has said that he will be looking to play his game and help the rest of the side gel together as a team. The India skipper, while speaking at the pre-match press conference, said he will not be looking at the larger picture.
"I have thought a lot about all this," Rohit said. "Now I'm just going to play my game and help the team in whatever way I can and get everyone together to play as a team. That is what I'm going to be focusing on. Not looking at the larger picture. I don't think those kinds of thoughts will help so much. Staying in the present and doing what is required at that particular time which is important, and I'll be focusing on that."
The Indian skipper said that for him, he doesn't want to look too far ahead and take it one game at a time. Rohit said that he and the team wouldn't want to think a lot ahead and put themselves under pressure.
"I'm sure everyone in the team have their own way of dealing with tournaments like World Cup. And I'm sure they'll take the right calls as well. But for me, I think it's important not to look too far ahead. Just think about what we need to do tomorrow. Play the game well and then take it from there. We won't think too much and put ourselves under pressure," said Rohit.
India will play Ireland on June 5 in New York.
