India vs Pakistan: Rohit Sharma's Approach to 'Big Matches'

The 2011 ODI World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan in Mohali was a momentous occasion that left an indelible mark on the players and fans alike. The then India coach, Gary Kirsten, and his staff recognized the significance of the match and gave the players space to reflect on its magnitude.

"After the show [a presentation by the team analyst] is over, Gary says the support staff is mostly non-Indian," writes R Ashwin in his book "I Have The Streets." "They value this team, and it's a big game for them too, but they can't even begin to imagine how big playing Pakistan in a World Cup is for us players. He says they're all leaving now, so we can be alone and conduct the rest of the meeting ourselves."

The meeting, held two hours before the match, was charged with emotion. Sachin Tendulkar delivered a rousing speech, expressing his anticipation for the past two-three years of facing Pakistan in the semi-final or final and lifting the trophy. The players left the meeting with goosebumps, their hearts filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

In 2011, such matches were rare and highly anticipated. However, the advent of frequent World Cups and the strategic planning of groups to ensure India and Pakistan play in the league stage has somewhat diminished the edge of these encounters.

Despite the increased frequency, the results in 'big matches' have become a burden for the current Indian team. However, Rohit Sharma, the current captain, believes that the team's approach has not changed significantly.

"Nothing has changed from last seven months because we played them [Pakistan] in the Asia Cup, the ODI World Cup, and now the T20 World Cup," said Rohit. "Earlier it was a different ball game because we used to play them every maybe once in four years, or two years, now it's a different ball game. We literally played seven months back in Asia Cup and the World Cup and here we are again now."

Rohit emphasizes the importance of staying present and focusing on the immediate task at hand, rather than dwelling on the larger implications of the match. "I think what's more important for me is to just think about what I need to do right now, or this particular over - not to even think of how much do we need to get after 20 overs, or how much we need to bowl them out for. I think it's about that one over, how we want to finish that over, staying in the present, and literally just nailing down maybe over by over, and think about what you need to do in that particular over, and that is where the skill of captain comes into play."

Gary Kirsten, who coached India in 2011 and is now Pakistan's coach in 2024, believes that the players have a deep understanding of each other's game and that the focus should be on executing their own plans effectively. "I think these players have seen enough of each other and how they play," he said. "In the end we want to make sure that we get our game right. Look at the conditions and what is required on the conditions because I think that's going to be a big day tomorrow."

Kirsten also noted the different atmosphere of the match being played outside of India or Pakistan. "I think it is a little bit different because it's not in India or Pakistan," he said. "I went for a ride early this morning, which I like doing most mornings, and I certainly rode around the stadium a little bit and I kind of felt that there's going to be a good vibe there tomorrow. So that's going to be exciting for us all to have that many people that have come out to support the two teams."

As the two teams prepare to face off once again, the legacy of the 2011 semi-final will undoubtedly be on their minds. While the stakes may have changed, the passion and intensity of the rivalry remains as strong as ever.

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