After thrashing West Indies team 2-0 in the two-match Test series and 3-1 in the five-match One day International (ODI) series, Men in Blue will next take on them in three-match T20I series starting on Sunday.
While Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been rested for the upcoming T20I series, wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been dropped from Indian squad. However, stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma feels the absence of Kohli and Dhoni is an opportunity for youngsters to make their mark.
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“Dhoni has been such a massive player for us, without a doubt and his experience in the middle will be missed. But it gives an opportunity to youngsters to come and do well. All these guys who are in the team have done well in IPL and domestic circuit and that’s why they are in the squad. We need to see what they bring to the team. Now Rishabh (Pant) and Dinesh (Karthik) have the opportunity to come and perform,” Rohit Sharma told reporters on the eve of the first T20I in Kolkata.
Sharma also explained that there should be a balance between playing and resting player.
“There needs to be a balance between playing and resting players. This sort of a series gives you an opportunity to give the seniors rest, and youngsters a chance to perform. So giving test to players is totally necessary,” the batsman added.
When Sharam was asked whether the team is looking for youngsters ahead of the ICC ODI World Cup 2019, he said, “We have to look at the guys who are knocking at the team’s door, and what they bring to the table. Looking at the World Cup, we should not only be sure of our 15 members but the ones on fringes also. New guys like Shahbaz Nadeem and Krunal Pandya who are in the series have an opportunity to do well. He (Pandya) was there in the previous series too but didn’t get a game, so let’s see how he does here.”
In the absence of the 29-year-old Indian captain, Sharma was recently given the opportunity to lead the team in the recent Asia cup 2018 and had done well.
“Windies are a dangerous team as they are the defending champions of World T20. They are undoubtedly one of the strongest in this format. We have seen in this in the past that they have a completely different approach to this format of the game. So keeping their strength in mind, we need to do what we do best. Also I think we have the same quality in our attack. It should be a great contest, this series,” Rohit Sharma said.
Rohit Sharma also said, “Not just those two guys (Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell) but all the team has a lot of experience in this format. Just like our league (IPL), they have their own league (CPL). So this is the format they enjoy the most and have successful as well. It’s not going to be easy for us to emerge victorious here. We have to play our best cricket and not concentrate on the opposition.”
“We are not looking too far ahead. For now we have to concentrate on this series and win it, and then think about Australia. We want to win all the games and every tournament that we play,” Rohit Sharma signed off.
