14 November - Mumbai - India Captain Rohit Sharma pre-match press conference
[Reporter:]
When a big match like this happens, everyone is well prepared, the players are in good form. So, in the end, absorbing the pressure and playing openly, is it all dependent on that?
[Rohit Sharma:]
Yes. Look, from the first game to the last game, the last game we played in Bangalore, be it a league match, semi-final or final, whenever you play a World Cup game, there is always pressure. This is obvious because the World Cup is a World Cup, that's why there is pressure. But we have handled that pressure very well in the last 9 games. From the first game to the last game we played in Bangalore, the boys gave a good response. We were only focused on our game. We wanted to play good cricket. What we did.
In the future also, we will focus on playing good cricket. Because in India, if you are an Indian cricketer, then whatever the format, whatever the tournament, there is always pressure. Because you hear the same voice from everywhere that we have to win the match tomorrow. We have to score 100 runs. We have to take 5 wickets. So, all these guys, whether they have played 200-250 matches or 5 or 10 matches, they have to go through all this. So, I think in terms of pressure, it becomes mandatory for Indian cricketers. There is pressure, but we have tried so hard in all these years to keep that aside and focus more on our game, strategy, and the way we play.
Because what happens from outside will always continue and will not stop. We need to focus on the game and focus on the challenges that will come from the opposition.
[Reporter:]
Everyone was saying that we have only five bowling options, if someone gets injured, we’ll be in a [inaudible] – you changed all that and made it 9 bowling options.
[Rohit Sharma:]
We wanted to change our combination when Hardik got injured. Before that, from the first game we tried to get the rest of the players to bowl. It was important to get the situation right. In the last game, we got the situation where we could try some things. So, it's good. I mean, there are options, but I hope we don't need them.
[Reporter:]
We as media, we talk about history, what happened in the last match before that. Do you guys think about history when you get into the field or while preparing? Do you think of what happened in the last World Cup, what happened in the World Test Championship Final, or you just completely set aside and focus on this match? How does your preparation go?
[Rohit Sharma:]
Honestly, I mean look, that's the beauty of this team. Half of the guys were not even born when we won our first World Cup. And then when we won our second World Cup in 2011, half of the guys were not even playing the game.
I mean, for us, this current crop of players, they're very much into what is happening today, what can happen tomorrow. Those are the things they try and focus on. I don't see them talking about how we won the last World Cup, how we won our first World Cup. The focus is on how they can get better as a player, what they can bring to the team and what are the things they need to improve. So that's the beauty of the crop of players we have at this point in time. The focus is always on the present. And that, I believe, is a very, very good thing. Going into a tournament like this, from game number one, the focus has always been on what we can achieve today. What you achieve today sets you up for what you can achieve tomorrow. So, I think the crop of players that we have is very much focused on that process.
[Reporter:]
How about you or Virat, the experienced crop? I mean, people who have played this four years ago, played them, in between played them. What about you guys?
[Rohit Sharma:]
No, I think it's very, you know, obviously in the back of your mind, you know what has happened in the past. But what has happened in the past is the past. What you can do today, what you can do tomorrow is what, you know, we usually talk about. So, I don't think there's much debate or much talk about what happened ten years ago or five years ago or the last World Cup as well.
[Reporter:]
We are seeing from the Asia Cup to now even during the World Cup – we are seeing a healthy team environment, the way the best fielder is awarded the prize and all the activities that are happening that we might not have seen before. So, what would you say about the new environment that has been created in your leadership?
[Rohit Sharma:]
No, see, our conscious effort has been on this that the team's environment does not change based on the results. We have to create the environment that is needed for the team and that is mandatory. And this cannot be done by one or two boys. It is important for all the boys to come together, including the support staff. So, like we were in Dharamshala, we had a five- or six-day break there. We stayed in Dharamshala for two days. We did a lot of team activity there. We did a fashion show there, but no one knows about that. It's a good thing that no one knows about it.
So, all this effort, the environment of the team that we always talk about, this is the environment where we like to be very relaxed. And all the boys like this a lot. Because you know when you come on the ground, there will be pressure, pressure of performance, pressure of winning the match. That can't be changed. Because once you reach the ground, it is then up to the individuals how they want to take it forward. But before that, we have done everything we can to make the team's environment easy. The team's atmosphere is very good. It is very relaxed. So, this is a good thing.
[Reporter:]
Where did you start?
[Rohit Sharma:]
We started in Australia in the last World Cup, we started there the same way. We reached Australia 10 or 15 days ago. And we had set up a small camp in Perth for 7 or 8 days. And There is an island near Perth, we went there. We went away from cricket. Wherever we get a chance, we try to do activities like that. To keep the team's environment light. It's not like it's only happening in the last two years. It used to happen before as well. But now, I don't know. I don't know if it's more visible now.
[Reporter:]
It's not an easy job to be the Indian captain. A lot of things go on in your head. Right now, when you reflect back, look back as an individual, little boy playing at this ground, now you will be leading the side out in the semi-final. So, do you get time to reflect on your individual journey as well, how special it is going to be and how close you are getting to that unfinished business you spoke about in Chennai?
[Rohit Sharma:]
I don't think there's so much time to think about it. The focus is on the game, what we have in hand tomorrow. I seriously have no time to think about my journey, what it has been in the past. Probably after 19 November I will think about it. Right now, it is just business and pure business of getting the job done for the team.
Obviously, it is such a high-profile tournament everybody is watching. You want to display good cricket as Indian team, and that is what we've done in this tournament so far, which is very, very good. But again, we know the importance of this week. For us, we don't really have to change too much, being that same mindset as we were before the start of the World Cup.
[Reporter:]
I remember at the start of the World Cup when you were asked about the unfinished business, you said you don't want to be desperate and finding a balance and you also need a little bit of luck through the tournament. You are here to win, two games away from winning the World Cup as a captain. How does you reflect on that part of it?
[Rohit Sharma:]
Getting through to the qualifying stage, then the semis and then the finals, there are processes that you have to do. Because in the league games, you have nine games that you have to play well to qualify. So, our first focus, obviously, was to qualify from the league stages through to semifinals. And nine games. Nine games is a lot of games. Literally, two or three bilateral series to be honest. You have to break it down into games, different venues, you have to break it down into different strategies as well, different opposition you play.
So yeah, for us it was all about how we can break it down into parts and then take it forward. And when you're playing nine games, nine different opposition, nine different venues, you got to adapt to different strategies, policies, ideas, methods of getting the job done for the team. I think we did that really well.
The first of the tournament, if you see, I think we chased the first five games and then the next four games we batted first. So, I think in terms of the areas that we wanted to cover, I think we've covered almost every bit of it. But again, like I said, we do understand the importance of this week, but for us I don't think we need to do anything different from what we've been doing in this tournament.
There will be challenges thrown at you at different stages of the game. You just got to respond. You just got to front up and get through that situation.
[Reporter:]
New Zealand probably gave you one of your toughest games in the group phase. What have you been impressed by, by their play?
[Rohit Sharma:]
Yeah, look, I mean, overall, whenever we've come up against New Zealand, obviously, probably the most disciplined team in terms of how they want to play the game. And they play their cricket very smartly. They understand the opposition quite well. Obviously having played with a lot of our players in different stages of their careers, different tournaments, they do understand the mentality of the opposition. It is the same for us as well.
But, whenever we've played against them, the most disciplined team, I would say. And they've been very consistent for so many years now, playing semifinals and the finals of probably all ICC tournaments in the last, I don't know, maybe six, seven years, from 2015 onwards, if I'm not wrong.
So yeah, and we do understand what they bring to the table and how they play their cricket. We have been closely following all the teams as to where their strength lies, where their weakness lies. And based on that, we try and go out there and play the game.
[Reporter:]
Do you think the ODI World Cup is still as important as the other World Cups, T20 or the World Test Championship. How has it gone, this tournament? Like rough, smooth? There are things that you think as a captain that need to be looked into.
[Rohit Sharma:]
No, I mean, look, for me, the 50-over World Cup is the top of the table. I have said it at the start of it. I am not somebody who is going to say this format is better than that format because for me all three formats are equally important because you are playing for your country in all these formats and it's a very rare privilege that anyone can have of playing for your country. So, I don't believe in prioritizing X, Y, Z. I think all three formats to me is equally important and in the tournaments as in this tournament as well you've seen it like it's been a fantastic tournament without a doubt - a lot of teams have come through a lot of teams have challenged opposition and that clearly shows that ranking doesn't matter. To be honest, anyone can beat anyone on that particular day. If you don't show up well, if you don't play to your potential, teams will beat you. So, you've got to be ready for it and we saw it in this tournament that every team is capable and at the end of the day you are talking about the World Cup. Every team will come fighting hard to get that victory. So, I think it has been a fantastic tournament.
[Reporter:]
How much important toss will be? Because in this venue, the first innings score is 350+, and the second innings score is less than half. And excepting Max's miraculous innings, all of the team who batted first won. So how much important the toss is?
[Rohit Sharma:]
Look, I mean, honestly, I've played a lot of cricket here. This four or five games is not going to tell a lot about what Wankhede is. I don't want to talk too much about what Wankhede is. But I certainly believe that toss is not the factor.
[Reporter:]
You said you don't want to think too much about what happened in the previous semi-finals, but did you learn anything in those games last year against England, last time against New Zealand, or before that, that you might want to implement as captain tomorrow?
[Rohit Sharma:]
Yeah, no, obviously, when you don't come through, obviously there's a lot of learnings, what went wrong, what as a team we could have done better, and things like that. But obviously now, it's a completely different setup, different set of players as well from what it was in 2019. So obviously we have taken our learnings from the previous World Cups, but again like I said there were different individuals in that game, different individuals now. So, I think things are moving pretty well at this point in time. And we would just like to continue in that fashion. Again, like I said before as well, what has happened in the past is not going to determine too much about what will happen tomorrow.
[Reporter:]
Whenever there is a big match, like a knockout match, as a captain, do you also have a sleepless night, like what will happen tomorrow, how will I play. Does this go on in your mind all night?
[Rohit Sharma:]
No, it goes on. That's why I don't live alone. I have a family with me. So, my mind goes here and there, which is a very good thing. When I go to my hotel room, we completely stay away from cricket. We discuss a lot of other things. So, it's a good thing. You think a lot about cricket, yes, but when you have time, when you have a chance to not think, then you shouldn't think. Because, even if you think all day, what will happen? So, it is important to think about something else.
[Reporter:]
You have been part of many Indian teams where you have played with many of the greats. From your point of view, is this the most dominant Indian team that you have been part of in terms of balance, form, and performance?
[Rohit Sharma:]
See, I was not part of the 2011 World Cup, which we won. I was part of 2015 and 2019. I thought, I mean, very hard to say which team was better and which team wasn't. I mean, eventually it's the Indian team. So, I'm not going to say that 2019 was better than 23 or 2015. I think what you can see from this team, all I can say is the roles are pretty clear for each and every one of them and they exactly know what to go out there and do. And it makes it a little easier for the players as well to understand what is expected out of them and what role they need to perform. I am not saying the role clarity was not there in 2019 because I was not part of the main discussions of when you assign a role, mainly the captain and coach decides what he wants from X, Y, Z players. So, I was not part of that. Obviously, I am now, which I think, it's pretty clear as to what we want, you know, each individual to go out there and do for us.
So, I think in terms of rating the teams, I mean it's very... I don't think it will be the right thing for me to do that or say this is a dominant team. I think all teams I was part of, I think they were quite dominant. That is what I would say. But yeah, you got to be. Now, the time has come that you need a little bit of luck as well to go your way. Obviously, we're going to be brave enough. And hopefully, fortune favours the brave.
[Reporter:]
I want to ask you about Kuldeep Yadav and the Dharamshala game against New Zealand, where they put him under pressure but he came back really strongly through the second half of his spell.
That performance and what Kuldeep was in 2019 and now - as a captain, his resilience and how much he has come on as a player, could you talk about that a bit?
[Rohit Sharma:]
Yeah. Kuldeep obviously missed out on a few games in between, but since he's made a comeback, you see a different sort of Kuldeep in terms of his attitude, wants to front the situation, front the challenge, take the responsibility upon him. All those kind of things I can clearly see with him. He is not afraid to get hit because, like you mentioned, that particular game was a perfect example where the batters were trying to put him under pressure. But he eventually got those couple of wickets for us.
With him, it doesn't matter that he goes for runs, but his job, he knows that he has to go out there and get the team into good situations, try for breakthroughs, if there's a partnership. And yeah, he's not afraid of getting hit. And that's the beauty of spin bowling.
If you are afraid, things do not fall in place in terms of the strategy of the team as well. You don't mind getting hit in a few overs, but the will to come back and finish off really strong is what matters. And that is what he did in Dharamshala. They were in good position at one point and they probably ended up getting 270-280 between that. So that was a good comeback in the last 10 overs.
I mean like we always say, the game is not over till the last ball is bowled. So even though you get hit for a few boundaries, few sixes here and there, in few overs, there are 10 overs, 60 balls that you have to bowl and you have to come back. And that is the attitude that Kuldeep has, even if he is put under pressure at the beginning, he knows he has to come back and he will come back.
[Reporter:]
Firstly, what is the mantra or like a principle that you swear by as a leader in your dressing room, being one of the senior players in the dressing room, and something that you particularly do for sure as a leader.
Second, if you look back at the campaign so far, what's the one moment possibly on the sidelines, something off the field that probably brings the widest smile on your face?
[Rohit Sharma:]
I don't have a mantra as such. I just believe that as a captain, if you have decided that this is how you want to play as a team, then there needs to be a clarity amongst the team. And then if a certain player wants to go out there and play in the way that you want him to play, then you've got to back that player to the hilt. And that is what we've done. We've backed certain players because we've given them a different role. And if they perform the role, well and good, but even if they don't, which will not come off in every game, we have got to back that player and tell him that we stand by you. That is something that I believe in and I want to do it as much as I can from my side and also got to give credit to Rahul as well you know to buy into that thought of not you know changing too much when the player doesn't come off with that plans.
So yeah, that is something that we have stuck by right from the beginning. And we will continue to do that even in the future as well. But yeah, that is something that I feel is quite important. And giving freedom to each player to go out there and perform their role. That is also again another important aspect of the game and how you want to play as a team. So, these are the two things, role clarity and giving the guys that freedom and going there and expressing themselves.
One moment I would say probably was the last game where all four of us bowled. The crowd enjoyed pretty much. And I'm pretty sure the fans across the world who would have watched us bowl would have loved that as well.