India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin expressed strong support for Rohit Sharma and said that the captain "doesn't need to be taught to score hundreds” on November 23.
Ashwin backed his captain wholeheartedly following criticism directed at Rohit for not converting a strong start into a substantial score during the World Cup final against Australia.
Throughout the tournament, Rohit showcased exceptional form, providing India with energetic starts mainly attributed to his explosive performances at the top of the order. With an impressive strike rate of 125, he accumulated a total of 597 runs in 11 matches.
However, Rohit faced criticism from some quarters for his daring attempt to hit Glenn Maxwell out of the ground in the final led to his dismissal for a 31-ball 47, which set a solid foundation but from where his team could not consolidate.
"Everybody says in hindsight that he would score 100 if he carried on, but it was his intent that made the team play in such a way. Rohit Sharma doesn't need to be taught to score hundreds - he has had quite a lot - but it is the intent which counts," Ashwin said.
The experienced off-spinner expressed surprise at Australia's choice to bowl first in the World Cup final on November 19. However, he commended Pat Cummins and selector George Bailey for accurately assessing the pitch conditions in Ahmedabad.
Australia outplayed India in various aspects of the summit clash, securing their sixth World Cup title. They defeated the title favourites, who were on a 10-match winning streak, in the final held at the world's largest cricket stadium.
"Australia were practically outstanding in the final. I was shell-shocked to see their tactics. Australia have deceived me personally, as their history goes by, they say 'we are going to have a bat, mate!' after winning the toss in the big finals," Ashwin said in his latest YouTube video on November 23.
"I was praying to the lord that Australia should do that, because many people do not understand that the soil in Ahmedabad was like Odisha's, as in, it played like how any soil taken from the eastern part of the country would play if every pitch gets bounce until the knee, this would get bounce only up to the shin," he said.
"The bounce will be less, but the soil won't disintegrate because the clay does not release the moisture, but holds it," Ashwin added.
Ashwin explained why he was surprised by Australia's tactics, emphasising that India's status as a 'cricket hub' is attributed to numerous bilateral series and the Indian Premier League (IPL). This, he noted, provides overseas players with valuable insights into pitches and playing conditions.
"I was checking out if the pitch was disintegrating at the mid-innings and I met George Bailey, the chairman of selectors and asked 'Why didn't you guys bat first like you always do after winning the toss?'," he said.
"For that, he answered back, 'We have played IPL and bilateral series for a long time now, and in our experience, the red soil disintegrates, but the black soil gets better to bat on under the lights”, he continued.
"Dew is not a big impact in red soil pictures, whereas black soil pitches are good turners in the afternoon, but in the night, the pitch solidifies into a pasta wicket and plays as though it is made of concrete.”
"I was flabbergasted listening to that, seeing all the experience from IPL and the bilateral series and India becoming a central hub of world cricket. They can read the pitch perfectly.”
The 37-year-old dismissed media reports that emerged on the day of India's semi-final against New Zealand in Mumbai, claiming that the pitch for the match was altered at the host's request.
"Journalists from other countries comment that the pictures have been changed and so on but it is laughable. India are a unique country, different parts of the country have different soils.”
"Ahmedabad in itself has more than 3-4 varieties of soil in the square so, what George Bailey said regarding the pitch made me spellbound, but Pat Cummins' execution needs to be applauded.”
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