IND vs ENG: 'Both Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik Will Be In Play For Selection': Rohit Sharma Ahead Of Semi-final vs England

At the Adelaide Oval on Thursday, Team India, captained by Rohit Sharma, will play against England in the second semifinal of the 2017 T20 World Cup. With 8 points from 5 games, Team India won Group 2 and advanced to the semi-finals.

All eyes will be on the lineup Rohit and company choose for the crucial encounter against the Three Lions. The team’s captain, Rohit Sharma, spoke to the media prior to the game about the team’s preparations and the possible lineups for the side. 

We Wanted To Give Rishabh Pant Some Game Time: Rohit Sharma

In India’s final Super 12 match against Zimbabwe, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was given an opportunity to play and replaced Dinesh Karthik in the squad. Pant was disappointed though, as he scored just 3 runs. 

“Between DK and Pant, I had just during the last game as well, Pant was the only guy who did not get to play on this tour at all except the two games we played at Perth. They were unofficial practice games but since then he has not had a hit.

He was missing game-time, so we wanted to give him time and have some options as well if we want to make changes in the semi-final or final,” said Rohit Sharma during a pre-match press conference. 

“It will be unfair to bring a guy out of nowhere and make him play the game, so that was the thought. But again, we have told the guys that everyone needs to be ready for whichever game they play, whether it is the semis or league games.

It was a little tactical as well considering we did not know which team we would play in semi-final before that Zimbabwe game. We wanted to make sure to give the left-hander an opportunity to counter those spinners who bowl in the middle.

But again, what is going to happen tomorrow, I cannot tell you know but both of those keepers will be in play for selection,” he added. 

Rohit Sharma Praises Fearless Suryakumar Yadav

In the current tournament, Suryakumar Yadav has distinguished himself as India’s “MVP” after scoring three half-centuries at an incredible strike rate. 

“That’s probably his (Suryakumar) nature and that’s where his fearlessness comes from. He is a sort of guy who does not carry any baggage with him. Not his suitcases, he has a lot of suitcases.

He loves his shopping (laughs). When it comes to carry that extra pressure, I do not think he has it in him and you can see it in how he plays. He has been playing like that or a year now,” said Rohit Sharma.

“You can judge the kind of character he is. I do not know if you have heard him in interviews, he likes to play in the same fashion, whether we are 10 for 2 or 100 for 2. He likes to go out and express himself. That is probably the reason he was in the team in the last World Cup.

We did not have a great World Cup, but looking at what he has done since the last World Cup, as you say, SKY is the limit for him. He has shown great maturity, he has taken pressure off a lot of the guys and it rubs off when they bat around him. We do understand his game very well,” he added. 

Further talking about Suryakumar, Rohit Sharma said: “We do understand what the bowler is trying to do when he is batting. It is a collective of everything. He likes to play on big grounds, he once told me that he does not like to play on smaller grounds where he cannot see the gaps. He likes to see the gaps and play accordingly.” 

On Tuesday, Rohit Sharma took a knock on the forearm. The Indian captain discussed the same thing and said: “I was hit yesterday, but it seems to be fine now. There was a little bruising, but it is absolutely fine now.” 

India last won an ICC competition in 2007, the same year that the nation last won the T20 World Cup. India won the Champions Trophy in 2013 under the direction of MS Dhoni, and Team India hasn’t won an ICC championship since. 

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