India skipper Rohit Sharma is in no mood to take the arch-rivals Pakistan for granted ahead of their high-voltage T20 World Cup clash at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 9.
There is no room for complacency: Rohit Sharma
Rohit admitted that there is no room for complacency, however, also exuded confidence in the same breath.
"I am pretty confident. The body language plays a big part for any game. There is no room for complacency. Any team can beat any on a given day. You cannot relax. If you don't have a good day, you can take some brilliant catches and that can change the complexion of the game," Rohit Sharma said at the press conference.
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Despite Pakistan's shocking defeat against USA on June 6, Rohit Sharma drew everyone's attention towards Pakistan's history of bouncing back in major tournaments, suggesting they shouldn't be underestimated. This upcoming encounter marks the eighth time India and Pakistan will face off in the T20 World Cup.
"Playing good cricket holds the key. We have spoken about the conditions here. And have plans in place. We will try to give our best. There is lot of experience in our changing room. Making the right decision will be key," Rohit stated.
"This is the special nature of T20 cricket – anything can happen. Even in the last T20 World Cup, Pakistan lost to Zimbabwe, but it was eventually Pakistan in the final as well. If the opposition lost the last match, that doesn't mean they will lose again or play badly. They will surely have analysed their mistakes," he further added.
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On playing fearless brand of cricket, Rohit said that one needs to be brave and innovative at the same time, which is the reason he is playing eight batters in India's XI.
"You gotta be innovative and brave. There is a reason why we are playing with eight batters. Yes, conditions do matter and here you got to be mindful," Rohit Sharma on playing a fearless brand of cricket.
India off to a flyer
With two matches already under their belt at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in New York – a warm-up and a convincing win against Ireland – Team India has settled into the conditions there. Rohit Sharma recognises that both teams will face the same pitch conditions, emphasising the importance of adaptability as a key factor in Sunday's high-profile clash against Pakistan.
"In New York, the conditions and opportunities will be the same for both teams. We have been here for just six or seven days; this is not our home ground. The team that plays well will win; it doesn't matter who arrived in New York first. We don’t know what the wicket will be like," Rohit concluded.
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