NEW DELHI: The 10-wicket mauling at the hands of England in the 2022
T20 World Cup
semis was a 'wake-up call' and since then
Team India
has become a completely different team, feels cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar.
England blew away the Men in Blue in Adelaide and went on to grab their maiden title at the last T20 World Cup.
In that game, star India batters
Rohit Sharma
and
Virat Kohli
didn't perform as expected and were big reasons for India's unexpected exit.
While Rohit scored 28-ball 27, Kohli hit 40-ball 50 as India managed a par 168 for 6, a target England overhauled in 16 overs.
Manjrekar said that both Rohit and Kohli including the team never admitted the loss was a wake-up call for them but that game did turn out to be the turning point for the T20I side.
"India is completely changed as a T20 side. That (2022 T20 WC semis loss) was a wake-up call for India. They may not admit it. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have never confessed that they helped India lose the semifinals, but this new India is a completely different India," Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo.
"What's also good for India is that England is looking a little weaker than they were a couple of years back. So that just helps India's cause," Manjrekar added.
In the ongoing edition of the cricketing extravaganza, Kohli has had a torrid run, scoring -- 1, 4, 0, 24, 37 and 0 in six matches.
Manjrekar sees Kohli's form a worry going into the semis clash against holders England but the former cricketer is expecting him to take up the responsibility on the big stage.
"Virat Kohli is a little bit of a worry because he hasn't got the runs, but he stayed committed to this approach of taking risks and doesn't worry about getting out. Whether he'll continue to do that in the semifinal, because this is a guy who has taken up the responsibility on the big stage, he feels that he's the guy who's got to do it. Plus he's short of runs. The thing to look for is if he's hit a four or a six and if he picks a single, then you know that he's batting a little differently," Manjrekar said.
Team India is looking to win their first major title in over a decade and bury any doubts about their backbone in the knockout rounds.
Rohit's team head into Thursday's semis in Guyana on a six-match unbeaten streak in the tournament and determined to emulate the title success of the 2007 side in the inaugural edition.
English (US) ·