India vs New Zealand, World Cup Semi-final: 'Play fearless' — Sehwag, Pathan's message for Team India

India take on New Zealand in the semi-final of the 2023 Cricket World Cup on Wednesday well aware of the fact that they have not been very good in the knockout stages of ICC events lately. India have not reached the ODI World Cup final since 2011 and have lost eight knockout matches in ICC events since 2013. Currenlty they are in the middle of a decade-long ICC title drought and have not beaten New Zealand ever in a knockout match of an ICC event.

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Team India, however, is the form team, having won nine out of nine matches in the ongoing tournament. They progressed to the semi-finals with utmost ease and will fancy their chances in the last four match.

Former India opener Virender Sehwag, who won the ODI World Cup in 2011, has adviced the Indian team to play “fearless” cricket and not worry about the results.

“Play fearless and give your best. Don’t think about the results. If eleven players give their best, they will win,” Sehwag said. “When we were chatting before the games, everyone was telling each other to give your best. No praising amongst each other. Gary Kirsten also ensured there was no negativity in the dressing room. That worked for us.”

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Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who won the 2007 T20 World Cup with the team, said the Men in Blue doesn’t have to do anything special in the semis and just need to follow the same process that worked for them in the group stage.

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“They don’t have do anything else. India have to just keep doing what they are doing at the moment, especially what they did in the league stages,” he told Star Sports.