(AFP Photo)
Rohit Sharma has returned to helm the Indian squad once more, eager and ready as Team India gears up to face Sri Lanka in a 3-match ODI series scheduled in Colombo.
Addressing the media before the series opener, the Indian captain emphasized the need to shift focus from their recent T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, highlighting the substantial tasks ahead for the team.
“I had a good time off from cricket. It was a great feeling to come back home after winning the World Cup…what we experienced in Delhi and Mumbai. But yeah, now we have to move on, cricket moves on,” said Rohit on the eve of the first ODI against Sri Lanka here.
“Whatever we have done in the past, that was good for that particular period of time, but time keeps moving forward and we also need to keep moving forward,” he added.
Commenting on Gautam Gambhir’s new role as Head Coach, Rohit Sharma hinted that the former India opener would bring a unique coaching style to the table.
“Gautam Gambhir has played a lot of cricket and he has been involved with franchise cricket also before. Obviously, it is going to be different from the previous support staff. Ravi Shastri was there before Rahul Dravid joined the team, every individual works differently,” he commented.
Rohit shared insights into his conversations with the new Head Coach regarding strategies to propel the team forward. ”I know Gambhir for a very long time and we have played a little bit of cricket together. He has a very clear mind and knows what he wants from the team,” he said.
“Basically, our chats have centred around what the team needs, what are our shortcomings, where have we done well etc. It was a discussion on how to take the team forward,” he added.
“But we don’t want to plan too far ahead. We are here for three games, and the idea is to take something back from these three games, and learn how we want to play and what we want to achieve in ODI cricket.”
The Indian Cricket Team returns to the 50-over format with key players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli rejoining the squad after a short break. With the aim of reclaiming their winning momentum, the captain is determined to maintain their strong track record against their neighboring rivals.
