India are enjoying an unbeaten run in the ongoing World Cup and have comfortably won six out of their six contests.
The campaign got underway vs Australia in Chennai and has been marching towards the knockouts with victories over Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand and England on the way. On eve of the match vs Sri Lanka, captain Rohit Sharma says “you cannot have a perfect game, but near perfect game” is all on their mind right now.
“We are not trying to look too much into the opposition, we’re trying to internally look into ourselves and see where we can get better as a team, better as a player, certain areas that we want to work on. Yes, we have won six games, but there have been a lot of games where we did not have a perfect game. And you cannot have a perfect game, but near perfect game is what you want as a team. So those are the things that we try and look into,” says Rohit.
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In the history of World Cup, only Australia and West Indies have managed to win the title without dropping a game. The way India are playing in this World Cup, it could well turn out to be a campaign where they remain unbeaten but for Rohit, it still is one match at a time and he is not willing to look too far ahead.
“No, we are not thinking of going that far, honestly. We just want to win every match. I have said this so many times, that for us, every match that we play is important. How we do well in that, what things we didn’t do in the last match, how we can do in this match. Our focus is on that. And after that, we move our vehicle forward. It won’t be right for us to think about the future, that we have to go unbeaten, and stay unbeaten. I don’t think that is the goal. The goal is to play every game and play it well,” says Rohit.
Personally with the bat, the right-hander has been in an explosive touch and has set the stage on fire with his fearless batting at top of the order. During the game against England on a tricky surface, he also showcased the patient side to his game where he compiled a solid 87 off 101 balls. There was a hundred for the taking but Rohit, trying to go big, fell 13 shot of what could have been another World Cup hundred for him. The skipper is enjoying batting at the moment but is also keeping the team situation in mind.
“Yes. I’m enjoying my batting. But obviously, keeping the situation of the team in mind, it’s not like I just have to go and swing the bat. I have to swing it well, play well and keep the team in a good situation. This is my mindset. When I open, the scoreboard starts from zero. So as a batsman I have to think, I have to set the tone for the game. So, I have that advantage or you can call it a benefit that I am starting the batting and there is no pressure of wickets because everything is 0-0, so when you have to start like that, you can be fearless and you can play the way you want to play but then last game we were put under pressure a little bit in the power play. We lost three wickets. So, the game should be changed.
“So, I think as a batsman my focus is on what the team needs at that time. What is needed in the first over, what is needed in the fifth over, what is needed in the tenth over. What is the team’s score, how many runs are they chasing, how much score is good on the ground? All these things. I think about all these things when I bat. So whatever situation demands at that time, I try to play according to the situation,” says Rohit.
Rohit has attracted a lot of praise for his captaincy and tactical moves in the middle but the Indian skipper is aware that mood would change the moment “one game (goes) here and there”.
“When things look good, everything looks good, everything works well. I know how this whole thing works. I’m quite aware of one game here and there, I know suddenly I’ll be a bad captain. I know how it works. I try and do what is necessary from the team’s perspective and be sure of that,” says Rohit.
‘We are watching Hardik situation daily’
The Indian skipper also provided an update on Hardik Pandya who has been missing from action since the painful fall in the game vs Bangladesh. Pandya didn’t travel with the side to Dharamsala, Lucknow and has not joined them in Mumbai for the match vs Sri Lanka too. Rohit said they are monitoring the all-rounder on a day to day basis and informs “there were lot of positives”.
“No, see, his procedure after the injury is very positive. Whatever procedure he had to undergo after the injury, and the NCA, there were a lot of positive things. Right now, he is not available for tomorrow’s match. But it is an injury that we have to see every day how much percent he has improved, how much recovery has been made, how much bowling has been done, how much batting has been done. So, on a day-to-day basis, we would like to take a call. Because we are watching for the World Cup, so obviously, the matches are taking place every 3 – 4 days. We are watching the situation daily. So, it’s possible, as he is progressing, it’s possible, hopefully, we’ll get a chance to see him as soon as possible. That’s all I can say for now,” says Rohit.
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