We are keen to utilize 4 all-rounders effectively, says Rohit Sharma ahead of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 opener

Rohit did not dismiss the possibility of fielding all four all-rounders in the playing XI.

By Salman Anjum - 05 Jun, 2024

Team India’s much-awaited T20 World Cup 2024 campaign is all set get underway on June 5 against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.

Ahead of the match, India’s team composition is making all the noise, especially the choice of all-rounders. The Men in Blue have four multi-skilled cricketers in their ranks, with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube being the pace-bowling all-rounders and Ravindra Jadeja and Akshar Patel being the spin all-rounders.

On the eve of the Ireland clash, India skipper Rohit Sharma addressed a press conference, where he said that the team management will look to utilize each of the all-rounders effectively throughout the tournament.

Rohit did not dismiss the possibility of fielding all four in the playing XI to strengthen the batting lineup.

"If you want to create a good balance in a team, you need a lot of all-rounders. In fast-bowling all-rounders we have Hardik and Dube while Jadeja and Akshar give us options in the spin department," Rohit told reporters.

"How to use these four across the tournament. We have thought about it and we will decide how to use them depending on the conditions. How to use these four players, that is our focus.

"We have seen how big a role all-rounders can play in T20 cricket. Not just in T20 cricket, but in all formats. Their role will be more than the rest of the players.

“It is important that we can use these four players well. As I said, I don't know if we can play all four together. If we can, that will be good. If we cannot, even then we have to find our way," he added.

Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal are the two specialist spinners featuring in the 15-member Indian squad. Rohit acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the conditions and highlighted the importance of finding the best combination that suits the team's needs.

"When we played the game with Bangladesh, all three spinners bowled two overs. It wasn't that easy to hit them. And in yesterday's match (SA versus SL), the spinners also took wickets. No one knows the conditions.

"The spinners will take wickets or the seamers will take. So, we possibly... We have to find the best combination and see what will suit our team. How can we keep our batting lineup longer? How can we have more bowling options? "So, keeping these two things in mind, we will think of making a combination," he said.

India had the benefit of playing a warm-up fixture against Bangladesh in New York before facing Ireland in their campaign opener.

"Certainly it doesn't look like a place where you can score easily. So we've got to be a little mindful of that and see what best we can do. That is what the experience in the dressing room is all about and we have got a lot of that.

"We are all coming off playing in IPL where a lot of runs were scored, so it's important to have that balance, understand what is required here. It's certainly not going to be an IPL kind of scores here, so we are very mindful of that and we just need to assess as quickly as possible and then bring your game into the picture," said Rohit.

Team India failed to end their long-standing ICC trophy drought last year, losing to Australia in the final of the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup.

Sharing his thoughts on the team's mindset entering the big event, Rohit Sharm underscored the importance of focusing on the present and playing as a cohesive unit.

"I have thought a lot about this thing. I am just going to go and play the way I can and get everyone together to play as a team. I will be focusing on that. Everyone in the team have their own way of dealing with tournaments like World Cup and I'm sure they'll take the right calls as well.

"But for me, it's important not to look too far ahead. Just think about what we need to do tomorrow, play the game well and then take it from there. Not think too much and put pressure on yourself," said Rohit. He also expressed his excitement about playing in New York for the first time.

"We never thought cricket in America will be played at any given stage. But now that we are here, it's a different feeling, right? From the time you arrived in New York, pending only 10 minutes at immigration, which is very rare, doesn't happen.

"So you can make out that the buzz is there, even the locals here are quite intrigued by a cricket tournament happening, a world cup happening here, because we go to the cafes and all, there are a lot of locals who come there and wish us the best. We've been to Florida, but this is different.

"All of us who are playing here we will try to leave a mark on this city and the people of US as well," he added.

(With PTI Inputs)

By Salman Anjum - 05 Jun, 2024

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