It has been 12 years since India won the ODI World Cup. In the current squad, there are only two players – Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin – who were a part of the World Cup 2011-winning squad. On the other hand, five-time champions Australia have several players who were a part of the squad that won in 2015 World Cup. Pat Cummins believes that having these players is a big advantage but Rohit Sharma believes otherwise.
"I think it's going to be an even match. The good thing is we have got six or seven guys that won it in 2015 so we know that feeling. Even more of the guys that were there in the T20 World Cup, different format, but pretty much everyone,” Cummins said in the pre-match press conference.
"Well at least a dozen of the 15, have won a World Cup and know what it takes and know that feeling and won't be afraid to go out there and be brave and take the game on."
Rohit feels that the times have changed and it’s a different ball game altogether.
“Don’t think Australia has an advantage if they say that they have played the 2015 final. We are playing this final after 8 years. We also have players who played many finals, Virat and Ashwin were there in 2011. So don’t think Australia will have that as an advantage but that’s their mindset, not ours,” Rohit told the reporters on the eve of the grand spectacle.
Rohit wants to live in the present as he said that performances of league stages and the final will not matter anymore.
“I don’t believe in aura or things like that. You have to play well in the day. If you make a mistake tomorrow, those 10 games will not matter much. For me, think and live in the present. We haven’t thought much about past or future but we think about the present,” the 36-year-old said.
“Don’t need to give a different message to anyone. Things have to remain the way they have been so far. Normal discussion will continue,” he added.
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