Indian skipper Rohit Sharma voiced his strong desire to secure victory in the Asia Cup 2023, clarifying that the tournament isn’t merely a fitness assessment for the players but a genuine quest to claim the trophy in Sri Lanka. Rohit also expressed his contentment in having the challenge of selecting the finest starting 11 from the 18-member squad at his disposal, highlighting the impressive depth of talent in India’s current bench strength.
The 36-year-old stressed that the Asia Cup is not a place for trying new things, emphasizing the team’s dedication to strategic planning and winning.
“All sorts of combinations available looking at how the game was played yesterday. We have got experience in our batting lineup. Batters have to play accordingly. We will try to take the game on, but it is important to read the situation well,” Rohit mentioned in a pre-match press conference before facing Pakistan.
Rohit Sharma conveyed his strong commitment to securing victory in the 2023 Asia Cup
According to Rohit, all the bowlers have demonstrated their excellence on the global stage, and he commended Jasprit Bumrah’s outstanding performance in both fitness and bowling skills.
“Speaking of [Mohammed] Shami, [Mohammed] Siraj and [Jasprit] Bumrah… especially Bumrah who is coming back from an injury after a long time, he played in Ireland, he looked good there. And then the small camp we had in Bengaluru, he looked good [there] as well,” Rohit added
The 36-year-old stressed that the Asia Cup is not a place for trying out new strategies. Instead, he emphasized the team’s commitment to thorough planning and the goal of winning.
“By no means, this is a fitness test or any other thing. This is a tournament played between the top 6 Asian teams. It’s a very big tournament for all of us, without a doubt, we learn from every mistake and loss. We have given opportunities to many players in the last year. We will use this Asia Cup to play good cricket. We are going to focus on winning,” he said while reflecting on past defeats in ICC tournaments.
The Indian captain also delivered an important message to his batting unit, advising them to blend aggression with a keen awareness of the match’s context rather than maintaining an excessively aggressive approach throughout the game.
“We have to apply ourselves in this format and this tournament. Yes, you have to be aggressive, but at the same time, you have to apply and give the time to settle in the crease and play according to the situation,” he added.
Rohit Sharma is optimistic that, after a nine-year hiatus, India and Pakistan could potentially meet in the Asia Cup finals this year. He also noted the need for players to swiftly adjust to the distinct challenges of ODI cricket compared to T20Is.
The highly anticipated India-Pakistan showdown is set to occur in Kandy on September 2nd.
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