"Pakistan bowling will challenge us, but our batters will be ready for that challenge": Rohit Sharma

[MenInG]

"Pakistan bowling will challenge us, but our batters will be ready for that challenge": Rohit Sharma

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/iiqo3p" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>


Rohit Sharma presser ahead of the 23 October game against Pakistan:

Pakistan have always been a good team. It is about being good enough on the day, says Rohit.

All players are available for selection, announces Rohit Sharma.


Is the game against Pakistan at T20 World Cup biggest of his career?

"Occasion keeps changing. I have played World Cup final against Pakistan in 2007. I think that whenever I play for India, its a big moment for me. Whether it is in 2007 or 2022, it is important. I know what it means to play for India. I know it's a big honour"


Is there extra pressure on India playing against Pakistan?

"I do not want to use this word pressure, Pakistan have always been a good team. On that particular day, if you are good enough, you will always win"


What impact rain can have?

"Yes, it (toss) does become a little important. Melbourne weather keeps changing. You don't really know what is going to happen tomorrow. We need to come here thinking it will be a 40-over game, but if it is a shortened game, we will be ready for it"

"We will decide our XI tomorrow monring, see how the weather is. We have to wait till last minute. All 15 players are available for the selection."


Are match ups important in T20s?

"It is a bit of both match-ups and being instinctive. Lot of cricket has not been played in Australia in this month but it was important for us to get data on what happens in this month in Australia"


Rohit Explains Why Team Went To Australia 15-20 Days Prior To Start Of T20 World Cup

"When you are on big tours, you need to prepare well, lot of guys are not used to playing in foreign conditions. This was a conscious decision from BCCI and team management that we wanted to be prepared to the best of our ability. We made a conscious decision of going to Australia early"


India batting vs Pakistan Bowling:

"We know that Pakistan bowling is very good, but our batting is also very experienced, so the atmosphere is very good when two such competitors confront each other; We know that Pakistan bowling will challenge us, but our batters will be ready for that challenge so even for the spectators this is a great atmosphere; A good contest always takes place when it comes to India and Pakistan games"

"We have spoken amongst ourselves about how we should bat and also how we should bowl as that is important to get their batters out, so it will be important for us to make sure that we do well in both areas but then we should not forget about fielding also"

"Pakistan have been playing a good brand of cricket of late, luckily for us we got to play them in the Asia Cup twice otherwise we don't play them at all so it's very hard to gauge what kind of mindset they play with"

"For those 2 games we played in the Asia Cup, they had a few guys missing from their squad, and from our squad as well"

"It is important for us to understand what their weakness and strengths is, so we have tried speaking about those kinds of things"


ICC Trophy has stayed away for India:

"We are not under pressure but its a big challenge for India to perform well and win the ICC Trophy. With a team like India, there are lot of expectations. T20 World CUP gives us a chance to do well and end the drought."


On Mohammad Shami:

"He is ready, we will see him practice. He is very experienced and best replacement for Bumrah."

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan bowlers need to show up for this contest or else we are done.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Pakistan bowlers need to show up for this contest or else we are done.

The bowling hasn’t been great so far with us conceding 160+ to England in under 15 overs and then conceding 150+ to Afghanistan after having them under serious trouble.

Our pacers just never seem to find the right length on these Australian wickets. The pace and skills are there, just need to get the right strategy and need to hit the ground running tomorrow.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

The bowling hasn’t been great so far with us conceding 160+ to England in under 15 overs and then conceding 150+ to Afghanistan after having them under serious trouble.

Our pacers just never seem to find the right length on these Australian wickets. The pace and skills are there, just need to get the right strategy and need to hit the ground running tomorrow.

I am more worried about Babar and Rizwan.

If they target 140 every game, we can lose.

 

[alone1213]

Pakistan's record is so dismal in Australia. They never do well there even bowlers struggle a lot.
Bowlers never figure out the length to bowl in Australia. Even though Pakistan have got bowlers bowling at 150ks but they will struggle if they don't find the right length.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Pakistan's record is so dismal in Australia. They never do well there even bowlers struggle a lot.
Bowlers never figure out the length to bowl in Australia. Even though Pakistan have got bowlers bowling at 150ks but they will struggle if they don't find the right length.

But should be good enough to beat a poor Indian team as you rightly said in another thread.

 

[alone1213]

But should be good enough to beat a poor Indian team as you rightly said in another thread.

LOL obviously i want them to beat poor Indian team.indian bowling is horrible with all the trundlers but Indian batting is very good and they love playing in these conditions and many Indians consider Australia as second home and India has prepared well for this world cup.

If Pakistani bowlers bowled to their potential they would decimate poor Indian team but they never bowl well in these conditions.

 

[WengerOut]

After trying out bazillion players, Indian team is virtually the same as in 2021. Some level of planning.

 

[IamIndian]

LOL obviously i want them to beat poor Indian team.indian bowling is horrible with all the trundlers but Indian batting is very good and they love playing in these conditions and many Indians consider Australia as second home and India has prepared well for this world cup.

If Pakistani bowlers bowled to their potential they would decimate poor Indian team but they never bowl well in these conditions.

This is not bowing fast competition., bowlers/batsmen with skills wins you the cup

 

[DHONI183]

"Pakistan bowling will challenge us, but our batters will be ready for that challenge": Rohit Sharma

Babar and Rizwan can, at most, set a platform, but the chances of a team winning a T20 match depend heavily on its big-hitters. Here, as surprising as it might sound, I'm of the opinion that Shadab and Nawaz will be the key men for Pakistan - yes, I'm referring to their batting! From amongst the hitters that Pakistan play nowadays, only they two seem to be the ones who, alongside having the ability to hit, also possess brains and the required game awareness, and both must be given enough overs to make a difference. And of course, the bowling has always been Pakistan's strength, there's no denying that.

 

[alone1213]

This is not bowing fast competition., bowlers/batsmen with skills wins you the cup

LOL how many tournaments have these trundlers have won for India and i m very much assured they won't win this World Cup as well. Indian bowling is just not good enough.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

LOL how many tournaments have these trundlers have won for India and i m very much assured they won't win this World Cup as well. Indian bowling is just not good enough.

With all those Phaaast bowlers and the so called mythical 'tallunt' in your house should'nt u be acing every test series on bouncy wickets instead of the 12 consective phainta you have in SENA tests?
that said - i do feel next time pak are in aus for tests, with SA and ns you will surely fare better than last time both are awesome young talents.
as for us, yep - we hve the same pathetic trundlers no doubt.

 

[Hitman]

With all those Phaaast bowlers and the so called mythical 'tallunt' in your house should'nt u be acing every test series on bouncy wickets instead of the 12 consective phainta you have in SENA tests?
that said - i do feel next time pak are in aus for tests, with SA and ns you will surely fare better than last time both are awesome young talents.
as for us, yep - we hve the same pathetic trundlers no doubt.

The last time those phaast bowling superstars managed to draw a Test match in Australia was in 1995, when Javed Miandad was still playing. Ever since, Pakistan has a 100% loss record in Australia.

 

[PakPremi]

Indian bowlers will know how to bowl on Australian pitches better than Pakistanis. See no hope for Pakistan tbh with our feeble middle order batting. A shortened match however may suit Pakistani bowlers.

 

[jnaveen1980]

India's problem is swing. Shaheen kind of bowlers. If you are going to bowl gun barrel straight and if they survive after initial jitters will enjoy batting. It doesn't matter you bowl at 160 kph. They love pace. Another weakness will be spin.

 

[Kriketer]

Pak just need to get two early wickets and Indian team will crumble. Similar goes for Pakistan so for now it seems more so an even contest.

Counting on Nawaz to come good again, a lot relies on him. Did well against India so will have the confidence and last two innings should have given him huge boost, also Haider could really go after their spinners. Hopefully it come down to Nawaz and Haider and our openers will finish it like last time 152/0

 

[adzzy786]

Pak just need to get two early wickets and Indian team will crumble. Similar goes for Pakistan so for now it seems more so an even contest.

Counting on Nawaz to come good again, a lot relies on him. Did well against India so will have the confidence and last two innings should have given him huge boost, also Haider could really go after their spinners. Hopefully it come down to Nawaz and Haider and our openers will finish it like last time 152/0

What if we end up batting first

 

[Rana]

Indian bowlers will know how to bowl on Australian pitches better than Pakistanis. See no hope for Pakistan tbh with our feeble middle order batting. A shortened match however may suit Pakistani bowlers.

The usual suspects always throwing the middle order under the bus

 

[adzzy786]

The bowling hasn’t been great so far with us conceding 160+ to England in under 15 overs and then conceding 150+ to Afghanistan after having them under serious trouble.

Our pacers just never seem to find the right length on these Australian wickets. The pace and skills are there, just need to get the right strategy and need to hit the ground running tomorrow.

It’s not just that . When they are defending a total of 150 against a team like England it’s going be difficult. The batters need to score 200+ to give their bowlers a chance.

 

[Major]

luckily for us we got to play them in the Asia Cup twice otherwise we don't play them at all so it's very hard to gauge what kind of mindset they play with"


So Rohit feels playing us less makes it difficult for his team. Can this be thread title plzz

 

[ravisurya]

LOL obviously i want them to beat poor Indian team.indian bowling is horrible with all the trundlers but Indian batting is very good and they love playing in these conditions and many Indians consider Australia as second home and India has prepared well for this world cup.

If Pakistani bowlers bowled to their potential they would decimate poor Indian team but they never bowl well in these conditions.

Which Indian cricketer considers Australia his second home??

 

[Kroll]

Pakistan's record is so dismal in Australia. They never do well there even bowlers struggle a lot.
Bowlers never figure out the length to bowl in Australia. Even though Pakistan have got bowlers bowling at 150ks but they will struggle if they don't find the right length.

This fills me with confidence, thanks for the inspirational speech.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Pakistan will win if they chase.

Almost anything below 200 will be chased by Pakistan considering terrible Indian bowling.

If Pakistan bat first, its all about how long Babar and Rizwan take to get to their 50s.

 

[Zaz]

I am more worried about Babar and Rizwan.

If they target 140 every game, we can lose.

Lets stop spamming They dont target 140 every game

Babar and Rizwan will do their job Its the middle order that needs to stand up and be counted

If all or the majority of pakistans players come together tmrw they should win

 

[deems]

Lets stop spamming They dont target 140 every game

Babar and Rizwan will do their job Its the middle order that needs to stand up and be counted

If all or the majority of pakistans players come together tmrw they should win

It's not the middle order, it's the MIDDLE OVERS.
Please do some research on how we play the middle overs even when Babar or Rizwan is batting.

 

[TheSultan]

It's not the middle order, it's the MIDDLE OVERS.
Please do some research on how we play the middle overs even when Babar or Rizwan is batting.

That is a very good point. We also don’t play the powerplay well too. Hence the middling 140-160 scores.

 

[ex-q-zit]

LOL how many tournaments have these trundlers have won for India and i m very much assured they won't win this World Cup as well. Indian bowling is just not good enough.

When India won the world cup in 83 they had bowlers like madan lal, roger binny, mohinder amarnath etc who bowled at 120 while west indies had Joel Garner, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding and Malcolm Marshall.

in 2007 too the indian bowlers owled less than 140/hr.

Its all about how well you use the pitch and conditions. Traditionally Pakistan plays well in England while India plays well in Australia.Considering the weather for the next 2 weeks most matches may have overcast conditions where Bhuvi n co can be a handful.

That doesn't mean India can win the cup for sure. This year there are no clear favourites as was evident from today's match. Anyone can beat anyone on a given day amongst the top 6.

 

[PakPremi]

The usual suspects always throwing the middle order under the bus

Do you seriously think Iftikhar, Haider Ali, Asif are capable of significant innings?

 

[Blackbradman]

Pakistan Bowlers bowl fast and straight, most teams loose wickets in the death overs trying to slog them. The only way you can score against them is by playing proper cricketing shots.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Pakistan Bowlers bowl fast and straight, most teams loose wickets in the death overs trying to slog them. The only way you can score against them is by playing proper cricketing shots.

It is the form that is the issue. These old players cannot be trusted. Kohli is still not in great form despite that 100. He is nowhere close to his very best. Low strike rates these days.

 

[Rohan]

Lets stop spamming They dont target 140 every game

Babar and Rizwan will do their job Its the middle order that needs to stand up and be counted

If all or the majority of pakistans players come together tmrw they should win

You cannot expect middle order batsmen to come suddenly and blast 60 runs in 3-4 overs all the time

 

[Rana]

You cannot expect middle order batsmen to come suddenly and blast 60 runs in 3-4 overs all the time

Especially with those boundaries and Indian pacers not offering the extra pace (no offence)

 

[Mp812]

The key things to note from Aus-NZ and Eng-Afg game.

Only power-hitters can hit sixes on these big grounds.
Take off pace of the ball and they are hard to hit. Pace comes to bat and batter judges bounce correctly he hits. If he misjudges bounce he is caught behind.( Note Curran does not have pace but took 4 wickets)
Ball swings a bit for first 3-4 overs .
Singles and doubles are very important.

 

[Ab Fan]

Which Indian cricketer considers Australia his second home??

None as of yet but maybe the Gabba hero in future given the love he has got after the way he dealt with the sledges done on him

Australians obviously rate Kohli extremely high.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Pakistan relies heavily on their top 2 batsmen. Their bowling is good but Shaheen is coming back from injury. Overall India look favorites here. SKY alone tilts it in favour of India.

 

[Ab Fan]

Bhuvi
Shami
Arshdeep
Yuzi
Axar
Pandya

New bowl pairing is good, who will bowl in death overs though apart from Arshdeep? Is it Shami or Bhuvi or both chipping with one over each?

 

[jnaveen1980]

Bhuvi
Shami
Arshdeep
Yuzi
Axar
Pandya

New bowl pairing is good, who will bowl in death overs though apart from Arshdeep? Is it Shami or Bhuvi or both chipping with one over each?

India's best bet is not even allowing the opposition to get to death overs with wickets. Pick up wickets regularly and make sure opposition don't have enough fire power at death.

 

[Kroll]

Think spinners and fielders holding their catches will be key for Pakistan considering the big boundaries.

 

[JibranAnsari]

India are firm favorites but pakistan have just beaten a very good newzealand side. We may surprise india again.

 

[Firebat]

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[ex-q-zit]

Intersting how the famed Indian batting line-up approaches this stiff target

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Rohit looked very panicky. Probably wasn't expecting a target of 160.