The Asian Age

Rohit praises team effort

- IRFAN HAJI Karun Nair of Board President’s XI at a training session in Mumbai.

Opener Rohit Sharma on Monday attributed Team India’s marauding run in ODIs to a combined effort as Virat Kohli & Co. march towards their mission 2019 World Cup.

“It’s still one-and-a-half year away, so it’s too early to comment. But yes, it is our goal and we have already started preparatio­ns. Selectors, coach and captain have been talking about team combinatio­ns, keeping the big event in mind,” Sharma said.

India, two-time World champions, went down to Australia in the semi-final of the 2015 edition. Rohit said India’s recent success was not a result of a few members effort. “The contributi­ng is coming from different people and everyone is standing up. We are playing together as a unit. The thought process is also going in one direction as we move towards the goal, which is good for the team,” added Rohit who scored 296 runs in five ODIs with two half centuries and a century in the five-match ODI series against Australia.

The vice-captain, however, said their current focus was to beat New Zealand in the upcoming three-match ODI series. “We will assemble again in the hotel now and preparatio­n and strategy will start for the New Zealand series. Our goal is simple; which to do well New Delhi, Oct. 16: Dropped for the threematch ODI series against New Zealand, opener K.L. Rahul was drafted as an additional member in the Board President’s XI side who will take on the visitors in two warm-up games. It will be an opportunit­y for Rahul to get back into the limited overs side as he has and beat them,” he said.

Rohit said he never had big ambitions as a kid. “All I did was playing cricket and enjoying it. I was as disappoint­ed as the rest of India when we lost to Sri Lanka in the semifinal of the 1996 World Cup,” he said. not been in great form and also did not get too many opportunit­ies. In addition to the Karnataka batsman, legspinner Karn Sharma, who has been in great form for India A against the Black Caps A side, was called as a replacemen­t for injured Rajasthan youngster Rahul Chahar.

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— PTI
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Rohit Sharma

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