INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: India's dominance in this ICC World Cup continues to scale new heights, and the manner in which the home team fashioned its
victory over New Zealand in the semi-final on Wednesday was yet another example of authority in the series of its winning run that has now
extended to 10 consecutive victories
There were many in the list of Indian performers who can be credited for the 70-run triumph
Virat Kohli's record-breaking 50th ODI century, Shreyas Iyer's second consecutive hundred, the start provided by Rohit Sharma and Shubman
Gill and the seven-wicket spell by the unplayable Mohammed Shami all proved decisive in India's entry into the final
But among all those names, one that stands out for former England skipper Nasser Hussain is the skipper.To underline his statement, Hussain,
who was speaking during Star Sports' post-match discussion, said that the fearless approach that Rohit has shown as a leader and at the top
of the batting order has been infectious
"The headlines tomorrow will be about Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Mohammed Shami; but the genuine hero of this Indian side, the actual man
that has changed the culture of this Indian side, is Rohit Sharma," said Hussain.To explain that further, Hussain narrated what his fellow
commentator and India player Dinesh Karthik told him behind the scenes
"We were all there at the (T20 World Cup 2022) semifinal in Adelaide where they (India) played meek, timid cricket, plodded along, got a
below par score and England knocked them off none down, won by 10 wickets
We have DK with us who said after that he (Rohit) said to DK 'we gonna have to change'," said Hussain."It's one thing saying that and
another thing going out and actually walking the talk."In the semi-final at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, it was Rohit who once
again infused that fearless approach to India's game with a 29-ball 47 at the top of the order and added 71 runs with Gill (80 not out),
after which the two centurions -- Virat (117) and Iyer (105) -- took over and KL Rahul (39 not out in 20 balls) provided the final flourish
to take the total to 397/4.New Zealand, despite a shaky start, made a serious effort to knock over the big target with a century from Daryl
Mithcell (134) and a fine 69 by skipper Kane Williamson; but once Williamson was sent back by Shami, the Indian pacer started owning the
game and finished with record-breaking figures of 7/57."I think the real hero today was Rohit," Hussain reiterated
"The first time they (India) have been tested
Group stage, as you would know, is one thing
Can you do it again (in a knockout game)? Can you play fearless cricket? The skipper went out and showed everyone, showed his dressing room
that we are going to carry on exactly the same way."In the title match on Sunday, India will take on the winner of the second semi-final
between Australia and South Africa in Kolkata on Thursday.WatchWorld Cup 2023 semifinal breaking: Virat Kohli scores 50th ODI ton, breaks
Sachin Tendulkar's record
