Team India like a fortress, outside opinions don’t matter: Rohit Sharma to India Today

India vice-captain Rohit Sharma has talked up the bonding and dressing room morale of the senior national team in the lead up to the 2019 World Cup, saying a 15-member squad is a well-knit group.

Rohit Sharma added that Team India don’t get influenced by opinions from the outside and equated the Virat Kohli-led squad to a “fortress”.

Speaking to Boria Majumdar, Consulting Editor Sports, India Today Group, Rohit Sharma said: “The team is like a fortress. There are 15 people inside it and whatever anyone can say from the outside, the 15 inside will not get influenced.”

Over the years, Rohit has been a mainstay and more importantly, one of the most dependable members of the team. Having broken records at will in the recent past, Rohit will be keen on making a mark in his first World Cup stint as the vice-captain of the team.

All eyes will be on Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan as India have been heavily reliant on their top-order for good starts in ODI cricket.

Stressing he is aware of the expectations, Rohit said he enjoys the challenge that comes his way and that he has been able to understand his game better in the recent past.

“I am aware of my role. Shikhar Dhawan and I know we have to lay the foundation. I enjoy the challenge. I am in the best mental space as a batsman. With maturity, I have been able to understand my game better. I have learned from my mistakes in the past,” Rohit Sharma said.

While a lot has been said about India’s batting firepower, Virat Kohli will be blessed with a top-quality bowling attack as well. With the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar taking care of the pace-bowling department, India has two wrist-spinners and a finger-spinner in their ranks for the 2019 World Cup.

While pointing out that the current bowling set-up is one of the most balanced India have ever had, Rohit also played down the concerns surrounding Kuldeep Yadav’s form in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019.

Kuldeep was dropped by Kolkata Knight Riders after the wrist-spinner struggled for consistency and leaked aplenty. Kuldeep has picked up just four wickets from 9 matches in IPL 2019 at an economy rate of close to 9 runs per over.

“Certainly, this is one of the most complete bowling attacks. I am not bothered about Kuldeep Yadav’s lack of success in the Indian Premier League because franchise cricket and playing for India are very different,” Rohit said.