New Delhi, Dec 26 (NationPress) As India prepares for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup as the reigning champions, their resurgence in the shortest format came after a significant defeat—a ten-wicket loss to England in the semifinal held in Adelaide in 2022.

Australia's former World Cup-winning captain, Aaron Finch, reflected on India's mindset during that match, stating that the team's fear of losing inhibited their ability to play freely. 'India was so apprehensive about losing that semifinal that they constrained themselves from playing their natural game. It's disheartening to be eliminated,' he said.

Finch elaborated, 'Once the initial shock wears off, you strategize backwards. You establish plans, set small milestones, and agree on your targets at different stages. Then, you just keep ticking those off as you progress,' during the second episode of the ‘Rise of Champions’ series on JioHotstar.

Former England captain Eoin Morgan, who was commentating during that game, noted a noticeable change in India's tactics at a critical point. 'Whenever India competes in a World Cup, the expectation to win is immense. The semifinal against England was anticipated to be a thrilling encounter. However, about ten overs into India's innings, I turned to Sunil Gavaskar in the commentary box and questioned the disappearance of the bravery and courage that India had shown under Rohit Sharma earlier in the tournament,' he remarked.

Following that defeat, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out shifts in the team’s selection strategy throughout the tournament. 'One advantage I looked forward to was Rohit opting for a more consistent playing eleven, similar to what Mahendra Singh Dhoni did. In contrast, Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri often surprised us with their lineup in nearly every match,' he mentioned.

Finch also stressed the importance of new perspectives within team dynamics. 'Change isn't necessarily negative. Sometimes, a fresh voice—be it a captain or coach—can significantly benefit the group,' he stated.

Regarding India's performance in the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup, where Rohit & Co. excelled before succumbing to Australia in the final in Ahmedabad, Sunil Gavaskar praised Rohit Sharma's aggressive batting approach for establishing a strong foundation. 'India started strong with Rohit Sharma making substantial contributions. He set a precedent for others to keep the momentum going,' he commented.

However, Manjrekar argued that India's over-planned strategy led to their downfall in the final. 'I was extremely proud of the Indian team that participated in the 2023 ODI World Cup, as they appeared to be the best in the world. Yet, with Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid, they may have tried to micromanage off the field too much. The pitch they selected was a mistake, and we saw that batters like Suryakumar Yadav struggled when the pace was taken off on a slower pitch,' he explained.

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh attributed the loss in the final to mental pressure impacting the team's focus. 'The pressure of playing in a significant final shifted their concentration. This distraction is why we fell behind in that match,' he stated.

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden provided a sharp critique of India's defeat in the home ODI World Cup final. 'Everyone assumed India would win easily at home. They forgot that sports is about competition, with two teams involved. One was better prepared. Losing the World Cup at home is a monumental setback. I don't know how one moves past that. With 1.4 billion people, you should be able to defeat anyone globally,' he expressed.