India are not unbeatable, but... - Rohit Sharma's stunning remark ahead of England Tests
Published - 24 Jan 2024, 03:52 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 10:23 AM
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma addressed the pre-match press conference ahead of the first Test against England in Hyderabad from January 25. The first Test kicks off a five-match series with the England players needing to adjust to different conditions.
Rohit spoke on a variety of topics related to the Indian cricket team in the press conference. India have been unbeaten in the last 16 Test series at home since England defeated the Men in Blue in 2012 and Australia way back in 2004.
England after their dismal World Cup performance in India a couple of months before have a chance to topple India in a Test series at home for the first time in more than a decade. They have a chance to replicate what Alastair Cook and his men did to India in 2012.
Meanwhile, speaking at the press conference Rohit Sharma said that India are unbeaten at home but the past records of India???s dominant run do not matter.
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???Don???t think we are unbeatable, but whatever past records we have do not guarantee that we will come out on top, we have to play well,??? Rohit said in the press conference. Rohit himself is still pretty new as India???s Test captain. He lost the WTC final to Australia after leading India to the final in the last edition.
He now has a chance to make amends for it starting with the first Test against England at home. The Indian management will have a hard time naming the playing XI as they will have plenty of options to choose from. They have two keepers in KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel to choose from after Rahul Dravid confirmed that KL Rahul will play as a specialist batter in the side.
Among the bowlers, India have all their senior bowlers available with Jasperit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj expected to play, Mohammed Shami is ruled out due to an ankle injury. While Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will surely play, Rohit hinted that only one between Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav will make the cut.
The Indian skipper also broke his silence about Virat Kohli???s unavailability in the first two matches and explained the reason behind naming Rajat Patidar as his replacement.
???We did think of going back to experienced player to fill in Kohli???s absence, but then when will we give the youngsters the chances,??? said Rohit.
???Sometimes you have to bring in certain players in conditions they are familiar with, we do not want to expose them to foreign conditions,??? he further added.
England are placed eighth in the WTC points table heading into the Test series against India. The lost their last two Test series against India in 2016-17 and 2021. England last won against India in India in 2012 under Alastair Cook???s captaincy by a 2-1 margin.
The first Test will be played in Hyderabad from January 25-29. Vizag hosts the second Test from February 2-6, followed by the third Test in Rajkot from February 15-19. The fourth Test will be played in Ranchi from February 23-27. The series concludes with the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala from March 7-11. A win for India will help them to reclaim the top position on the WTC points table.
