Rohit Sharma backing India to win "at least two World Cups out of three coming up"

The Indian team hasn't lifted a major world trophy since winning the 2013 Champions Trophy.

By Kashish Chadha - 24 Apr, 2020

With the quality and overall depth of talent available in the country, limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma believes India should be able to win "at least two World Cups out of three coming up" in either white-ball formats. 

The Indian team hasn't lifted a major world trophy since winning the 2013 Champions Trophy in UK, consistently reaching the final few stages of the tournament, only to painfully fail at crossing the last hurdle.

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However, Rohit, during an Instagram live chat session with veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, said the team is determined to fix that up. 

"My personal aim is that we as a team should be able to win at least two World Cups out of three coming up," he said. 

There are two T20 World Cups and one 50-over World Cup scheduled in 2020, 21 and 23, respectively.

One thing that the team management shall genuinely focus on is rebuilding its middle-order, a weakness which plagued the side at last year's World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Manchester. 

"Probably, if we did not lose wickets in that opening half hour (against New Zealand), we could have won the game. Those 10 overs were really important," said Rohit, referring to the top-order collapse which happened that day. 

"We keep talking about backing players (for the middle-order) in the team so that they can cement their places. There is a lot of pressure on the captain and coach to pick the players and back them."

"It is important to give them enough chances. We have heard about how dada (Sourav Ganguly) backed you (Harbhajan) and Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh). How they backed you and then you delivered. The same way we should do it, the process is on. Whoever is being backed at the moment will get adequate chances," Rohit told Harbhajan. 

Rohit need not look far away from his own career for an example of what happens when a talent is backed enough at the highest level. 

"When you don't get a consistent run, the player's confidence is hit," he said. "It happened to me also. It depends on the individual how he utilises that opportunity."

"We should back the players till the time you are absolutely sure that he is not in the scheme of things in the long run."

(Inputs from PTI)

By Kashish Chadha - 24 Apr, 2020

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