Warm-up games gave me confidence: Rohit
First Published : 17 Sep 2012, 19:40
Last Modified : 17 Sep 2012, 19:40
Colombo, Sep 17: Although India lost the second warm-up game to Pakistan, Rohit Sharma coming into form and Virat Kohli continuing his will is the silver lining for India going into the 2012 ICC World T20. The young pair added 127 runs for the third wicket to help India set a competitive target for Pakistan.
Speaking to the media after the match, Sharma who had impressed with a half-century, talked about the team’s strengths and weakness.
Excerpts:
On the wicket
The wicket was very good to bat on, as you saw more than 180 runs were scored in both the innings. It was a typical Sri Lankan wicket; if you bat well and apply yourself you will get runs here.
On his form leading up to the tournament
Talking about the past tour to Sri Lanka, it was frustrating. I was not in great form but everyone showed faith in me which is very encouraging for me. I have certainly worked hard on my batting and my fitness as well and I think it is showing. It is not the end, it is just the start and there is still a long way to go in the tournament. Unfortunately, things didn’t go our way today [but] 186 was a good target on this track because I thought there was a little bit of help for the spinners. But yes, it was one of those days where things didn’t come together. We still have one more day before the official game on 19th so we will see how we can come back.
On the importance of the openers’ form in the T20 format
It is very important in any format you play. Getting a good start is important. They have been batting really well; there is no doubt about that. I am sure that in the coming games when they actual the tournament starts they will come good. They have experience playing in these conditions and I feel it is just a matter of one game and we are right there after that.
On team’s approach towards today’s warm-up game
It was a warm-up game but we were very focussed and we wanted to win this game. We were quite intense in the field. It’s just that our bowling didn’t click together which is a little bit frustrating because, if you want to win the game everything has to click together. It’s just that. Our bowlers did a pretty good job in the first warm-up game when we defended 145 [odd runs] on that flat track. I don’t want to take any credit away from them. They have been bowling really well. I am sure they will come well as the tournament progresses.
On what is a safe score to defend in the conditions on offer
At this moment, I cannot say what is a safe score. We will have to look at the wicket and we will have to look at the conditions. We have to look at the opposition as well and then plan accordingly. I feel that we just can’t go into the tournament thinking that we should have this much score and we should defend it. I think we should take it game by game. Every game will be very important.
On whether bowling is an area of concern
No, not at all. It was one of those bad days I would say. If you look at the last game against Sri Lanka, the bowlers got plenty of wickets we defended a low score, which was on that track which was 145-odd runs. It was not a par score [for that track] yet the bowlers defended that. Yes, we had an off day today. I am sure we will come on hard against Afghanistan and from there on.
On the confidence he has gained from his last two innings
Certainly, it helped a lot. I wanted to make full use of these two warm-up games because getting into a tournament with bad form is not a good way to go into a tournament. Even in Chennai when we played against New Zealand I didn’t get to bat [much]. So these two warm-up games were very important from a personal point of view. And I am glad I made full use of it. So I am just looking forward. I don’t want to lose this form, I just want to bat, I don’t want to take any pressure also because I just want to keep myself calm, free and composed.
