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Ahead of the World Cup 2023 final, India's captain Rohit Sharma is under the spotlight for his explosive batting style, which has significantly contributed to India’s success in the tournament. Sharma's fearless batting in the opening overs has been instrumental in laying strong foundations for India's substantial totals.
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However, former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan has a different perspective. In his conversation with ANI, Wassan suggested that Rohit should adopt a more calculated approach in the final against Australia, cautioning against overly aggressive batting. He emphasised the risk Sharma faces if he continues his ultra-aggressive strategy, particularly against Australia’s formidable fast-bowling duo of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
"The preparation has been nice since we have won all our matches. It seems that the match will be easy but it would not be the case as I know the Australian team well and have played with them," Wassan told ANI ahead of the final.
"They are energetic and dangerous. They have that never-die spirit. They have six to eight players from the 2015 and 2019 World Cups so they have experience of big matches. In India, cricket is a matter of life and death. Our players know it and soak the pressure. That is why Virat Kohli and Rohit are legends. Every team had a bad day in this WC. Hope this never comes for us.
"Rohit has been over-attacking in his approach. But I fear that Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will do well against him so he should take a measured approach," he added.
Wassan highlighted that Australia's cricket team possesses a strong winning mentality, especially in high-stakes matches like World Cup finals.
"Australia lost two matches but they got momentum at the right time. We have been maintaining a peak for so long on the other hand," he further said.
Wassan also pointed out a significant shift in the dynamics of the current Indian team. Unlike in the past, where the team’s success often hinged on the performance of a few key players, the current squad demonstrates a more collective effort. Each team member contributes significantly, spreading the responsibility and strength across the team.
"All players are performing well, that is why the team is doing good. Earlier, only one or two players used to play really well and the rest were not up to the mark. Rohit has set a platform for the rest with his batting, that is why Virat Kohli has performed so well. Mohammed Shami has performed so well, but it is Jasprit Bumrah who puts the pressure on batters due to which other bowlers are thriving. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav have also played their roles well, they will be our trump cards tomorrow," Wassan concluded.
As India heads into the final with a perfect record of 10 consecutive wins, they stand on the verge of making history. A victory in the final would not only crown them as world champions but also place them alongside West Indies and Australia as the only teams to have won the World Cup undefeated. This potential achievement underlines the collective prowess and consistency of the Indian team throughout the tournament.
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