Rohit: Right now our focus is on bowling more than batting. Indian captain backs struggling Harshal after his return from injury.
Although the Indian team wants to do better in all three departments of the game, but according to captain Rohit Sharma , the focus of the team at this time is more on improving its bowling. After registering a win over Australia in the third and final T20 International in Hyderabad, the skipper said the team learned a lot from the series and wanted to work on one or two aspects of the bowling.
In the post-match press conference, Rohit said, “To be honest, we want to do better in all three departments. In the last eight-nine matches since the Asia Cup, we have been batting well but we have to play aggressively. We are consistently better in fielding. We want to be there. In bowling, we are looking at a couple of things that need improvement. Right now our focus is on bowling more than batting.”
In the decider of the series, India chased down the target of 187 runs with one ball remaining with the help of half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav. Rohit was particularly pleased with Suryakumar Yadav ‘s batting.
“We know Suriya’s talent, he can hit all the way across the field. He has played important innings for us on our occasions. He keeps getting better with every match. Even today was an amazing innings,” he said. Playing this kind of innings after losing two wickets in the powerplay means snatching the match from the hands of the team in front and they did exactly that.”
Along with Suryakumar, Rohit lauded the contribution of veteran Kohli. He said that Kohli’s runs should not be forgotten as that 100-run partnership was crucial.
This series played against Australia was important for Team India in many ways. It was a great opportunity for the players to get in form ahead of next month’s World Cup. Also there was an opportunity for players returning from injury to regain their match fitness. One player who made a comeback in the XI after almost two months of injury was Harshal Patel . Harshal, a specialist death overs bowler, did not seem to be in rhythm and took only one victim, conceding 99 runs in eight overs.
Expressing confidence in his player, Rohit said, “He is an important player for us. Coming back from injury, especially for bowlers, is not easy. We have not judged him on his performance in these three matches because we have to His talent is palpable. We have full faith in his talent and it is important to show that belief. He is working on his bowling and correcting mistakes.”
Apart from Harshal, the recent matches have not been easy for Bhuvneshwar Kumar as well. In the Asia Cup, he failed to stop runs in the last over of the innings. Critics went so far as to say that his overs should be completed in the beginning. Rohit feels that these bowlers should be given some time as they still have all those qualities.
The Indian captain said, “It is not easy to bowl in the death overs. But we are working on some things. It is not that he has forgotten everything. He has all those skills. Right now we have to put faith in him.” And have to support him. If he bowls with confidence then everything will be fine.”