India captain Rohit Sharma underlined the huge role of head coach Rahul Dravid in the team’s success in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 as they prepare for the final battle against Australia. The summit clash will happen in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on November 19, 2023.
This is the fourth time India has qualified for the ICC World Cup final and 8th time Australia has made it into the summit clash. India is a two-time World Cup champion, while Australia has won the crown 5 times.
India came into the final after winning all 9 games in the league stage and defeating New Zealand in the semi-final. Australia lost their first two matches in the league stage but then won 7 on a trot to make it into the semis, where they eked out a win against South Africa.
Indian batting and bowling have clicked simultaneously with Virat Kohli (711) and Rohit Sharma (550) leading the charts. Mohammad Shami has 23 wickets in the CWC 2023 with 3 fifers and the best bowling figures of 7/57.
During the press conference, Rohit Sharma pin-pointed the understated role of Rahul Dravid in India's run as well as his batting, while emphasizing the team's determination to win the trophy in honor of the Indian legend.
"His [Dravid's] role has been absolutely massive in terms of getting that clarity which I keep talking about. It's one thing for me to think about and another thing for the coach to not agree to certain things. Clearly, looking at how Rahul bhai himself has played his cricket and how I play these days is quite contrasting. For him to agree and give me that freedom and liberty to go and play like that says a lot about him,” Rohit said at the press conference.
Rohit further spoke about how Rahul Dravid helped the players bounce back from the disappointment of losing in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
"Also the way he has stood by the players in difficult times, especially during and after the T20 World Cup. We had a good run up until the semi-finals and then we lost. And how he reacted to certain situations and informed the players about how we want to play says a lot about him as well. And obviously what he has done for Indian cricket is massive. He too feels that he wants to be a part of this big occasion. It's for us to do it for him,” Rohit said.
Rohit Sharma was also in the adulation of pacer Mohammad Shami. Shami was not part of the first four matches as India went with Hardik Pandya as the 3rd pacer. But once Pandya got injured, instead of opting for Shardul Thakur, India brought Shami in as a specialist pacer and went with a 5-bowler attack.
Shami rose to the occasion with fifers against New Zealand and Sri Lanka in the league stage and 7/57 in the semi-final. The captain elaborated on what was the chat with Shami during the initial games, as he lauded the 33-year-old for being a thorough team man.
“It was tough for him to not play the initial part of the World Cup, looking at him being one of the senior bowlers for us. But he was there for the team. He was there to help Siraj and Bumrah in whatever ways he could. And that shows the team man that he is. It was very clear, we had a chat about why he missed out and everything. And then obviously on the sidelines, he was working on his bowling.
CWC 2023: 'Australia will be a little scared to face India in the final,' says Virender Sehwag
Now, the results are there for everyone to see how he has come back from that. That shows the kind of mental space that Shami was in before the World Cup and even now. It's not easy not being part of the team and coming out to do the job the way he has done for us. Says a lot about him,” Rohit said about Shami.
"When you play a team sport, people do understand why certain players miss out on certain occasions because there's a lot that goes into getting your XI right. It depends on the conditions, opposition ,and balance you want to create. It was just that. But once the opportunity opened up for him, he was ready and we can all see with his performance,” the India captain added.
India will have a tough task ahead of them when they face Australia, who made the dominant batting lineup sweat a bit in their league encounter. But India will be playing in front of 1.30 lakh supporters in Ahmedabad as they move towards realizing their dream of becoming World Champions.
(ICC inputs)
