India's Rohit Sharma previews their ICC Cricket World Cup clash with Sri Lanka
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00:00 Hi Rohit, World Cup is going well for us.
00:04 We have won many competitions.
00:06 But Hardik Pandya, some reports suggest that he has left MCA.
00:11 What is the update? Is he close to match fitness?
00:14 When will he join the team? When will he play the next match?
00:17 No, look, he is very positive.
00:21 I can't say his rehab.
00:26 But whatever procedure he had to undergo after injury,
00:31 he has done very positive things.
00:36 He is not available for tomorrow's match.
00:39 But it is such an injury that we have to see every day
00:44 how much percent he has fit, how much recovery he has done,
00:48 how much bowling he has done, how much batting he has done.
00:50 So on a day to day basis, we would like to take his call.
00:55 We are watching for the World Cup.
00:58 Obviously, the matches are taking place in 3-4 days.
01:01 So we are watching the everyday situation.
01:08 So it is possible that as per his condition,
01:11 we will get a chance to see him as soon as possible.
01:15 That's all I can say for now.
01:18 Hi Rohit, I just wanted to ask you,
01:21 you spoke about the pollution in Mumbai.
01:23 Do you think that is a cause of concern?
01:26 And also do you think the culture that is there in Mumbai,
01:31 future generations could be affected by that?
01:34 Because it is prevalent in Mumbai as well as Delhi.
01:37 I mean, in an ideal world, you don't want a situation like this.
01:42 But I am pretty sure the concerned people are taking the necessary steps
01:46 to avoid these kind of situations.
01:48 It's not ideal, everyone knows that.
01:50 But obviously, looking at our future generation, your kids, my kid,
01:56 obviously it is quite important that they get to live without any fear.
02:03 So yeah, every time I get to speak outside of cricket,
02:09 if we are not discussing cricket, I always talk about this,
02:12 that we have to look after our future generation.
02:15 Sir, you have beaten Sri Lanka recently in Asia Cup,
02:23 but the fact that in 2011 they were once the world champions,
02:28 and this one, no not world champion, they were in the final.
02:32 So how much of those past and all the things matter to you in this kind of a match?
02:39 Look, I think in this World Cup, we have seen a lot of games,
02:45 a lot of, I wouldn't call it an upset, because every team here is to win games.
02:52 So it's not an upset.
02:53 But every team is trying to beat the other team.
02:58 So at no point or no game, you can think that this is a cakewalk for us.
03:06 It's important that you stay in the present, do your processes,
03:10 keep working as a team, what you have been doing as a team,
03:14 focus on all those aspects.
03:16 And as a team, that is what we are trying to do.
03:18 We are not trying to look too much into the opposition.
03:21 We are trying to internally look into ourselves
03:24 and see where we can get better as a team, better as a player,
03:27 certain areas that we want to work on.
03:30 Yes, we have won six games, but there have been a lot of games
03:34 where we didn't have a perfect game.
03:38 And you cannot have a perfect game, but near perfect game is what you want as a team.
03:43 So those are the things that we try and look into.
03:47 And speaking of the past, obviously, there's hardly one or two players
03:51 from their squad, from that team, maybe one guy, Angelo.
03:57 And same from our side as well.
03:59 There's only two guys in the squad.
04:01 So I don't think, you know, it's been more than a decade now
04:05 since that has happened, so I don't think that is going to be a factor.
04:08 Every day, you know, you have to turn up and you have to turn up well,
04:12 thinking that this is a fresh day, fresh game, fresh opposition.
04:16 Hi, Rohit.
04:18 Your selfless approach is being praised a lot in this World Cup.
04:21 50, 100, milestone, you are not looking at anything.
04:24 You are just looking at hitting the shot.
04:26 So, in power play, your run is the best,
04:29 your strike rate is the best among all openers.
04:32 So, some suggestions have come to you from former cricketers
04:35 that if you become a little selfish for the team, it will be good.
04:38 You will last a little.
04:40 I'm enjoying my batting.
04:49 But obviously, keeping the situation of the team in mind,
04:54 it's not like I just have to go and spin the bat there.
04:57 I have to spin it well, play well and keep the team in a good situation.
05:03 This is my mindset.
05:05 When I open, the scoreboard starts from zero.
05:09 So, as a batsman, I have to set the tone for the game.
05:15 So, I have that advantage, or you can call it an advantage,
05:22 that I'm starting the batting.
05:24 And there is no pressure on the wicket because everything is 0-0.
05:29 So, when you have to start like that, you can be fearless
05:34 and you can play the way you want to play.
05:36 But then, in the last game, we were put under pressure a little bit in the power play.
05:40 We lost three wickets.
05:41 So, we should be able to change the game.
05:45 So, I think, as a batsman, my focus is on what the team needs at that time.
05:52 What is needed in the first over, what is needed in the fifth over,
05:55 what is needed in the tenth over, what is the team's score,
05:58 how many runs are being chased, how good is the score on the ground.
06:02 I think about all these things when I bat.
06:06 So, whatever the situation demands at that time,
06:10 I try to play according to that situation.
06:20 Rohit, are we seeing a different Rohit, this World Cup leading by example?
06:24 And, you know, everything is falling in place.
06:28 Can you describe about your own captaincy?
06:31 Everything is working well, scoring runs, leading by example,
06:35 and India winning. Can you talk about that?
06:38 I'm sorry, you're…
06:40 No, no, I'm saying, Rohit, you're leading by example,
06:44 and India is winning all the matches, you're scoring runs,
06:47 you're field settings, captaincy, everything is falling in place well.
06:50 Can you talk more about that, how everything is falling in place?
06:54 I mean, look,
06:57 you read the situation, you see where the game is going,
07:02 you see what is the right move in that particular situation,
07:09 you try and analyze all those things and you try and make a move.
07:12 Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't work.
07:16 So, you've got to be prepared for that.
07:18 I totally believe that, you know, whatever calls we make on the field,
07:23 it is in the best interest of the situation of the team
07:25 and what is going to happen, you know, from here on now,
07:30 next five overs or ten overs.
07:32 So, you try and analyze those kind of situations
07:34 and try and make that move.
07:37 Like I said, sometimes, you know, it can work, sometimes it may not.
07:42 So, I try and look into all those situations
07:47 and I see what is the strength of the opposition team,
07:52 what they like to do in certain phases of the game
07:56 and try and analyze those aspects of the game
08:00 and then try and pass on that message to the bowlers
08:03 and this is what we're trying to do, trying to go for wickets
08:06 or trying to contain the batsmen with a little bit of different field placement
08:11 and things like that.
08:12 It's the minor adjustment and the tactical aspect of the game
08:17 that I try and bring in, you know, when I feel like it's necessary
08:22 and I mean, hats off to, you know, the players as well
08:26 to really comply with that because it's not easy.
08:29 It's one thing if I keep thinking about it
08:31 and another thing if the guys don't comply with it.
08:34 And I think full credit to, you know, all ten of them
08:38 who have taken part in that game
08:43 and responded to that thought process of the team.
08:48 It's not my thought process, it's the team's thought process
08:51 that, you know, the guys comply with.
08:54 So, you know, when things look good, everything looks good,
08:59 everything works well, so I know how this whole thing works.
09:04 I'm quite aware of, you know, one game here and there,
09:08 I know suddenly I'll be a bad captain.
09:11 So I know how it works.
09:13 So I try and do what is necessary from the team's perspective
09:18 and be sure of that.
09:23 Questioner - Rohit, back home in Sri Lanka,
09:25 people are mourning the death of Uncle Percy.
09:28 When you were in Colombo two months ago,
09:30 you took the trouble to visit him
09:32 and if you can talk to us about how the Indian team
09:36 interacted with him over the years
09:38 and if you have any message for his family?
09:40 Yeah, look, I mean, I was lucky to get an opportunity
09:43 to meet him in Sri Lanka during the Asia Cup
09:46 and he's been such a great fan of cricket.
09:53 Of course, Sri Lankan team, but he's probably the first ever fan
09:59 that I met, you know, who was so genuine
10:02 and the support from his side towards his team,
10:08 towards the players was fantastic to see.
10:12 When I first went to Sri Lanka in 2005 actually
10:18 for U-19 World Cup, he was there, but I was a little boy.
10:22 I had no idea about how things work outside cricket field.
10:26 So I was not too much into that.
10:28 But when I went with the Indian team for the first time in 2008,
10:32 you know, I saw him for the first time then
10:35 and I saw how passionate he was.
10:37 And I got lucky as well to meet his family,
10:41 his son, his grandson, you know, their family, very sweet.
10:48 You know, I went with a few of my team members as well.
10:54 But yeah, it's a sad loss, you know, sad loss to the cricketing fraternity
10:58 because in my eyes, he was the number one supporter of cricket
11:03 at that point in time.
11:05 Obviously, there have been so many fans now,
11:07 but the first ever fan, cricket fan I saw was him.
11:13 So we, I mean, yeah, it's a sad moment for all of us.
11:18 Rohit, this has been a very good chasing ground,
11:25 but the two games that South Africa have played here,
11:28 they batted big and they batted first.
11:30 Your assessment of the pitch that you had a look at
11:33 and what you may try and do tomorrow?
11:36 I don't, honestly, don't want to say what we're going to do tomorrow,
11:41 but yeah, look, as Indian players, we've played in these conditions,
11:47 we've batted first, we've chased targets.
11:52 So for us, I think, you know, this is a ground
11:57 where things can be quite unpredictable at times,
12:00 like there's so much in it for the bowlers as well.
12:04 So you can see, you know, probably a top spell coming from the bowlers
12:09 rattling the opposition, that can happen.
12:13 As you say, it's a high scoring ground,
12:15 but at the same time, if the bowlers put the ball in the right area,
12:19 it can be slightly difficult.
12:22 So, you know, everyone gets value here,
12:26 the bowlers, spinners as well, and the batters.
12:31 But yeah, I mean, from the team's perspective,
12:35 you know, it was good for us to bat first in the last game and win the game.
12:40 Even though we didn't post an over-par score or a par score,
12:46 but our bowlers did a fantastic job, which they have been in the last six games.
12:50 So yeah, we'll see, we'll assess in the morning and see how it is,
12:56 and we'll make the call whether to bat or bowl first.
13:00 Rohit, with 12 points, you're almost there.
13:04 Yesterday, Starsports was saying that India are 99% through to the semifinals.
13:08 Considering that, is there a chance that you will rest some players,
13:12 like bowlers, fast bowlers mainly?
13:14 And for the balance of the squad, is it a case that Rukhardy Pandya has to be there
13:19 for R Ashwin to play as third spinner?
13:22 All sorts of combination is possible.
13:27 You can still play with three spinners and two seamers if need be.
13:31 I think in this tournament, in this World Cup,
13:34 you've seen spinners actually are the ones who are stopping that run flow in the middle overs.
13:39 So I'm keeping my options open, whether we have Hardik or not at this point in time
13:45 to play three spinners or not.
13:47 If the situation demands for us to play three spinners, we will play three spinners.
13:53 Because I feel spinners, actually with a lot of skill set,
13:57 can put a break on the scoring rate in the middle overs
14:01 if our spinners have got so much skill bowling in these conditions.
14:07 So definitely a possible option for us.
14:11 But like I said, we'll see whatever is necessary to make the right combination, right play.
14:21 We will do that.
14:22 And as far as the resting for the bowlers are concerned,
14:27 I think they are in great rhythm at this point in time.
14:30 They don't want to rest. Body is fine.
14:33 And this is the feedback that I've gotten from all the bowlers.
14:37 So they are happy to play games.
14:40 I want to ask you about the off the field journey.
14:45 Before the World Cup, many senior players said that playing World Cup in India is an added pressure
14:49 because wherever you go, you play.
14:51 And fans come up to you and say that you have to win.
14:54 So how has the off the field journey been in six matches, six cities?
14:58 No, you are playing in India now.
15:02 You know that people have so many expectations.
15:06 And I'm sure all 15 of us, you know, somewhere like this,
15:12 when you travel to India, whether you are playing matches or not,
15:18 you know, there are people at the airport, in the flight next to you,
15:23 or anywhere you are traveling, they'll talk about your game.
15:27 We want 100. We want you to see taking five wickets.
15:31 We want to see you winning games, tournaments, series and all of that.
15:37 So I'm sure all these things have been, you know, in people's, in the players' ears since beginning.
15:45 So I don't think it's a pressure, but it's nice that people are expecting a lot of things from us.
15:50 And, you know, a nice way to respond is we know how.
15:54 So but at this point in time, you know, we are enjoying the cricket that we are playing.
16:01 And we want to continue to do that as long as possible and as deep as possible.
16:06 So at this point in time, that is the focus.
16:09 And yes, we are actually enjoying traveling from one end to the other end.
16:15 It is nothing new for us, you know, so don't really talk too much about it in detail.
16:22 This is all I have to say about this part because, you know,
16:26 boys travel from one place to another, and there are different expectations from different cities,
16:34 different players. So boys get a good feeling. That's what you get to hear from them.
16:43 Rohit, West Indies and Australia have been two such teams in the history of the World Cup.
16:49 They have won the World Cup twice, no, twice unbeaten.
16:52 India has won the World Cup three times, but never been unbeaten.
16:55 Is there a determination, like you guys have campaigned, that you want to remain unbeaten?
17:00 No, we are not thinking so far ahead, honestly.
17:03 I have said this so many times, that every match that we play is important for us.
17:11 How we will do well in that, what things we did not do in the last match, how we can do in this match.
17:16 Our focus is on that, and after that we will move our vehicle forward.
17:22 It would not be right for us to think so far ahead, that we have to go unbeaten, remain unbeaten.
17:30 I don't think that is the goal. The goal is to play every game and play it well.
17:36 Rohit, the statue was unveiled today. Did you see it?
17:41 Mumbai batsmen hitting a lottery shot. And you were part of that series in 2013.
17:47 Again, aggressive batsmen from Mumbai. So can you talk about that statue and your batting style and his batting style?
17:55 Sachin's statue.
17:58 When we reached the practice, we saw the statue.
18:03 But we could not see it so closely, because we were practicing.
18:07 And our media manager delayed the press conference.
18:13 So we did not get a chance to see it so closely.
18:19 We just came and we saw the statue. And then we came back.
18:25 I finished my batting and I came here now.
18:28 But we will get a chance to see it properly.
18:31 I have not seen the shot yet.
18:34 Straight lofted shot.
18:39 What should I say? A statue of straight lofted shot has been made there.
18:45 It's nice. I hope you guys enjoyed it. We saw the statue. It's fantastic.
18:55 Thank you.
18:58 (laughing)