Speaking to media ahead of the blockbuster India vs. Pakistan match of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC 2023), Rohit Sharma, India captain, said that they are ready to make changes to the playing combination if needed.
The two Asian Giants will clash in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on October 14, 2023, in the biggest clash of the ICC World Cup thus far. The match will be preceded by a musical event organized by the BCCI.
The biggest talking point of the pre-match press conference was about what playing XI India will field against Pakistan in Ahmedabad. Rohit Sharma was asked whether India will go with three spinners like in Chennai against Australia.
Rohit talked about the changes in the squad and said, "I don't know I still haven't looked at the pitch yet but we are ready to play whatever combination we want to play that's the challenge going forward for us as a team depending on what kind of condition we want to play if there is a change or two we need to make, we will be ready for that."
"The guys have already been informed about these kinds of changes so I don't think it is going to be an issue for the players but if the requirement is there for us to play three spinners we will do that," Rohit added.
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Another topic of discussion was whether they should opt to bat first in Ahmedabad if India wins the toss.
Rohit ruled out that toss will be a factor against Pakistan and the decision will be based on what the entire team is comfortable with.
"Honestly, I don't know how much of a factor it is going to be, because in Delhi, we were expecting dew to come in. It didn't come. Chennai also, it was after probably 30 overs. So, you are done with 75 percent of the game by then. I don't think toss is going to play a massive factor it is what the team is comfortable doing. It is chasing first posting a total whatever it is we will try to do whatever the team is comfortable doing," Rohit said in the pre-match press conference.
Rohit Sharma was also asked about what has changed in his batting since becoming the skipper. Rohit recently broke the record for most centuries in World Cup history, during his 131-run knock against Afghanistan. He went past Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 6 tons.
"Not a lot to be honest. I know what are the things that I need to do to find success on the field in terms of me as a player and then as a captain. But speaking of just the player first, the batter, I think there are certain boxes for me that I have to tick before every game, just to get you that confidence,” Rohit answered.
"And I thought I've done everything that I can from my side to prepare well for each game. Because we know every day is a new day, a fresh day. And you start your fresh day as a new challenge." The past hardly matters and it is only the future that one should look at.
You can take a bit of confidence from that, but like we know in sport, every day is a fresh day. You play different opposition. They bring you new challenges. And you just got to be ready to face that challenge, confront that challenge.
I understood my game, what is my game, and what the team's requirements for my game and my ability. So, I think I try and do all of that to the best of my ability. If it comes out, it comes out. If it doesn't, it's okay. As long as I know that before entering the game, I have ticked all the boxes, I'm happy with that,” Rohit added.
India has had a 7-0 lead over Pakistan in ICC Cricket World Cups since 1992. Rohit spoke about this stat as well.
He said: "I'm not a person who looks into those stats. You have to play good cricket on that particular day to win the game. That is what we'll be focusing on -- how we can play good cricket, which is understanding the conditions, what is required from the team's perspective, and things like that."
India thumped Pakistan in an Asia Cup match last month but Rohit did not think they would carry any psychological advantage from that outcome.
"I don't believe in these things. As a team, we can't focus on the past. It will be a fresh day, a fresh contest, against a quality opposition. "I believe both teams start even. There will be no favorite or underdog tomorrow,” Rohit said.
"I have said this many times, that for us, tomorrow's match is a match against the opposition. We will see that match the same way we have seen the last two matches and the upcoming matches. There is no need to think more or less. We will prepare the way we prepare for every game. And the message will be the same for all the boys. There is no need to do anything else,” Rohit said.
(ANI/PTI inputs)
