Australia vs India 2018: Australia Will be a Different Ball Game - Rohit Sharma

The depleted Windies side in India was never going to be an issue for the Indian juggernauts. Except for the second and third ODI, it was just one-way traffic in favor of the hosts. Meanwhile, India’s interim captain Rohit Sharma doesn’t want to throw caution to the wind. Rohit Sharma said Australia will be a different ball game altogether.

In fact, the Australian side is not at height of its prowess and thus India is expected to start as favorites. However, the Men in Blue should not get complacent with it. Australia will be playing in their home conditions and they will be more familiar with it. Furthermore, the pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins can breathe down the neck of the Indian batsmen.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma is also included in the Test squad after his consistent limited overs performances. Rohit hasn’t grabbed his red ball chances yet in the foreign conditions. Thus, it would be a perfect chance for the Indian opener to come good.

“Australia is always challenging when it comes to going out there and performing. Every time you go there, you are tested as a player, as an individual, and as a team.

“When you win a series like this, you are high on confidence and it is all about taking that confidence there. Australia will be a different ball-game and I completely understand that. But I think the things we have been doing as a team, we have to keep repeating the performance. It is a never-ending story,” added Rohit Sharma.

On the other hand, India was able to clean sweep the Windies. Shikhar Dhawan was able to get back into form with a fine knock of 92 runs. Furthermore, Rishabh Pant scored a fifty. Thus, Rohit believes it was crucial for the players to get amongst the runs.

“It was important from the team’s perspective, and for the players to get some runs ahead of the important Australia tour. Shikhar was batting well in the ODI series. He was not able to get big scores. He was getting 30s and 40s. I am glad that he could play a match-winning knock today and get some form under his belt before the crucial tour.

“Rishabh was also hungry to go out and get some runs. It was the perfect situation today. We were two down inside the first six overs. There was a bit of pressure as well. They handled it well and it was a match-winning partnership (130 runs off 80 balls for the third wicket),” he said.

Rohit said he is not thinking about the first Test match. India will play a three-match T20I series before the four Test matches.

“We have the T20Is and practice games before the first Test match. I am not thinking about the Test match. All I am thinking of is going back, taking a few days off, and take the flight to Australia. We will have enough time to think about the Test match after that. If I try and stay in present, it works for me. Test matches are something I was looking forward to for a long time, It will be nice to go out there and play a Test match for India,” he said.

Rohit Sharma will be determined to prove his mettle in the Australian conditions. Rohit has done a good job in the recent past and would aim to bring his best to the table.