It’s a huge game with big expectations: Rohit Sharma says ahead of ICC Cricket World Cup Finals

As the highly anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final between India and Australia approaches, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma expressed his emotions and the significance of the moment during a pre-match press conference at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Rohit acknowledged that the final is emotionally significant for both himself and the team, given the immense expectations placed on Team India.

During the press conference, Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of maintaining focus amidst the emotional weight of the occasion. He acknowledged that playing in the World Cup final is a monumental milestone for him, especially since he grew up watching and admiring 50-over format cricket.

“See emotionally it will be a huge game. There are big expectations. As a player, it is important for us to keep the focus. Rather than thinking about the occasion. Yes, it remains in the back of your mind we cannot hide away from it. For me, it is the biggest moment. I grew up watching One Day Cricket,” Rohit stated.

For Rohit Sharma, the journey to this World Cup final has been a long one, marked by previous near misses. In the 2011 ODI World Cup, the 36-year-old cricketer was not included in the squad and missed out on being a part of the victorious team that lifted the trophy after 28 years on home soil. In the subsequent ODI World Cups in 2015 and 2019, Rohit was part of the squad, but Team India faced heartbreaking exits in the semi-finals.

Now, Rohit Sharma has an opportunity to claim the prestigious trophy, but it can only be achieved if India prevails over Australia in the upcoming final match of the ongoing ODI World Cup.

Acknowledging the significance of the match, Rohit Sharma highlighted that it promises to be an exciting final since both India and Australia have demonstrated the potential to win the tournament. He emphasized the importance of sticking to their strengths as a team.

“It is going to be a good final. Both teams have delivered and deserve to be in the final. We will stick to it,” he added.

Rohit further noted that the Indian squad remains composed and calm in the lead-up to the final match. He stressed the importance of maintaining composure, especially when facing pressure situations on the field.

“Come to the ground you will see how it is. Leading up to every game, we are quite composed and quite calm. It is important that we stick to our strength, our group. Even on the field when we are being put under pressure, then we stay calm,” Rohit remarked.

Rohit Sharma also shared insights into the team’s preparation for the final game, revealing that they had been planning for this moment well in advance. He emphasized the importance of role clarity within the team, which has been a significant factor in their success throughout the tournament.

“We prepared for this day much before. We played in the T20 World Cup and WTC final. In all three formats, we wanted to choose the right players. We have been doing this for the past two and a half years. We gave everyone role clarity. This has helped us a lot. All this has helped us here so far and hopefully, we will do well in the final too,” Rohit concluded.

India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Prasidh Krishna, Suryakumar Yadav.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.