Captain Rohit Sharma does not see why his team should back down from the high-risk approach that helped them clinch the T20 series against England 2-1.
Captain Rohit Sharma does not see why his team should back down from the high-risk approach that helped them clinch the T20 series against England 2-1.
India don’t go ballistic from a ball to a ball, but the batsmen are expected to carry their fearless approach from the shorter format to the ODIs when the three-match series against England begins here on Tuesday.
India’s high-risk play helped them Won the series against England And since ODIs have become an extension of the shorter format, Captain Rohit Sharma There is no reason why his team should back down from that approach.
England have redefined the way ODI cricket is played and their dominant run culminated with the World Cup trophy in 2019. It is no exaggeration to say that India’s latest approach to shorter formats has been inspired by the English template.
While these three games will be the only 50-over matches India will play before the T20 World Cup, Rohit said they are still very important.
“All matches are important for us. We can’t play ODIs as if they’re not a priority, but we have to keep in mind the workload of each player. We’ll make changes but our ultimate goal is to win matches. We won’t give up. That’s the thought process behind it,” Rohit said on Sunday after the third T20I in Nottingham.
“For us, understanding white-ball cricket, how to play, the new guys are playing. 50 overs is an extension of T20. Maybe you take less risk in ODIs compared to T20 cricket but you have to take it.”
The team will have optional training at the Oval with a quick turnaround between the T20 and ODI series.
For the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, who captains the team in the West Indies, playing only one format, it will be a challenge to tackle England’s attack from the word go.
However, the southpaw has found ways to be consistent for India, be it in ODIs or the IPL.
Over a crore people were waiting for Virat Kohli’s form in T20s but it didn’t happen.
Buying into the team’s new approach, he has struggled from ball one but the ODI series will give him plenty of time to return to his best. He showed glimpses of his rare brilliance on Sunday and will be hoping to find a bagful of runs in three games.
India’s conscious attempt to play aggressively is not always good, but the team management is willing to live with it.
“Everyman’s approach” was Rohit’s biggest takeaway from the T20 series
Rohit also talked about the biggest takeaways from the T20 series win.
“The biggest takeaway is the approach of every person who has played in this series. How they enjoy the moment in between, the opportunity, the opponent, the extra risk.
“The mindset is what we’re trying to change and I think that’s the biggest takeaway from all the players. They’re willing to do that, they’re willing to take that risk. When I go and talk to some people or players and I hear the same kind of response from them, that’s the biggest takeaway.
“Obviously while doing that, results go here and there. We look at the big picture and we make some mistakes to achieve that,” he said.
This will be Buttler’s first ODI series since taking over as white ball captain from Eoin Morgan. After the T20 disappointment, the hosts will be eager to bounce back strongly.
Buttler, who failed in T20s, is looking to make the big scores he is known for.
England will be strengthened by the return of their star players Ben Stokes. Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, hero of hosts Birmingham’s Test victory.
Although Root did not play T20s, Stokes and Bairstow were rested after the historic win in the rescheduled fifth Test.
Squads:
England: Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Harry Brook, Brydon Carsey, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Craig Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Phil Salt, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey.
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wicket), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Akshar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasid Krishna, Mohd Krishna . Shami, Mohammad. Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.
The match will start at 5.30 pm IST.
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