"Every team wants to beat India, they all enjoy that, let them enjoy" - Rohit Sharma not fussed over oppositions ahead of home season
Team India skipper Rohit Sharma maintained that the side are not overtly focused on the opposition, and are rather focused on their own strengths and gameplans. The Men in Blue are set to begin their home season with a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, beginning from Thursday, September 19 onwards at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Team India commenced their preparation for the series with a preparatory camp, with the majority of the squad going on a break after a hectic season. Their last international assignment came in the form of the Sri Lanka tour, where they played three T20Is and ODIs. The upcoming series against Bangladesh marks head coach Gautam Gambhir's first red-ball series, with bowling coach Morne Morkel also officially taking charge in the role.
Rohit Sharma noted that the Bangladesh series is in no way, shape or form, simply a dress rehearsal for the all-important Border-Gavaskar series. He asserted the importance of bilateral affairs while being focused on the task at hand instead of the opposition.
"Every team wants to beat India, they all enjoy that, lene do maze (let them enjoy). We have played lot of cricket against a variety of teams. We will focus on our own game. When England came they also spoke a lot in the press conferences, but we do not focus on that; We try to play good cricket and not think too much about opposition," Rohit Sharma said during the pre-match press conference.
He further asserted that the team are not taking the foot off the pedal simply because they have managed to end the dreaded ICC silverware drought.
"Talks will start happening around how we lost bilateral series if we don’t win. I am not sure how it works for other teams, I can only talk about India. Every series is important for us. We won’t relax just because we have won a trophy, it doesn’t work like that," he added.
India are currently atop the World Test Championship (WTC) points table, and have a shot at featuring in the third straight final of the competition, if they play their cards right. Rohit Sharma and co. are also scheduled to play against New Zealand at home after the Bangladesh series.
"I don’t see any reason why he can’t flourish in Test cricket" - Rohit Sharma on KL Rahul
Team India have been bolstered with KL Rahul's return for the home season. The wicket-keeper batter has had a topsy-turvy red-ball career, with his latest role being in the middle order. He is primed to start over Sarfaraz Khan in the playing XI after missing the last four Tests against England due to injury.
"He was done well since comeback – scored hundred against South Africa. Unfortunately got injured after Hyderabad, didn’t play afterwards. I hope he continues from where he left in Hyderabad. I don’t see any reason why he can’t flourish in Test cricket. Opportunities are there. Important for him to understand how he wants to take his career forward," Rohit Sharma elaborated.
The Indian squad also witnesses new names in the bowling unit with Mohammed Shami still unavialble due to injury. Akash Deep, who made his debut in the England series, retains his place while left-arm pacer Yash Dayal also earned a maiden call-up.
The skipper stated that given the bowling resources available at the minute, the prospect of managing workload of the pacers should not be a problem, and expects a smooth process.
"Against England, we gave breaks to Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj. So, we will keep assessing them. You want everyone to play all the game, we’ve got a lot of bowlers. We saw exciting prospects in Duleep Trophy. I am not too worried about the kind of bowlers waiting in the wings," he added.
Team India are yet to lose a red-ball contest against Bangladesh, boasting an impressive record of 11 wins out of 13 contests.