Rohit Sharma drops Ashwin hint, lays down playing XI blueprint for Australia
Giving all-rounder Hardik Pandya a special mention, Rohit admitted that India can afford to play three spinners against Australia.
Crickate
Indian captain Rohit Sharma is intimately familiar with the options available to Team India in order to assemble a championship-winning playing XI for the pinnacle of cricketing competitions: the ICC World Cup. The veteran Indian opener, who was omitted from India's World Cup-winning squad the last time the Asian titans hosted the 50-over spectacle, has been invited back to lead the Men In Blue in their third One Day International (ODI) showcase event.
India will confront Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday, where Rohit and company will commence their pursuit of a third ODI World Cup championship. Rohit clarified to reporters prior to India's World Cup opener against the five-time champions that the sensational Shubman Gill is not ruled out of the fifth match between the two heavyweights.
Indian can afford to play three spinners
The Indian captain responded to a number of fervent inquiries by stating that the team led by Rahul Dravid is willing to utilize Ravichandran Ashwin at the Chepauk. Rohit acknowledged, with particular regard for all-rounder Hardik Pandya, that India can afford to utilize three spinners in opposition to Australia.
"Certainly. I mean, that is the privilege we enjoy in being able to utilize three spinners, as Hardik Pandya is not merely a seamer in my opinion. Hardik is a true fast bowler with the ability to generate considerable velocity. This therefore confers an advantage upon us. This affords us the opportunity to utilize three seamers and three spinners. Thus, that is a potential outcome, Rohit stated at the press conference preceding the match.
India have arrived in Chennai for their World Cup opener after both of their preparation matches in Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati were rained out without a single ball being bowled. Team India, led by Rohit, is striving to secure the historic feat of becoming the first-ever host nation to win two consecutive ICC World Cups.
It's been since 2011 since the Men In Blue last won the ODI World Cup. Rohit also implied, which is noteworthy, that India will not significantly alter its playing XI during the course of their World Cup campaign.
Rohit provides the playing XI blueprint for India
"We undoubtedly aspire to be a team that plays its finest eleven, but you are free to select your preferred eleven in accordance with the circumstances at hand. In situations where the slower bowlers can benefit slightly, you should incorporate those slower bowlers.
Consequently, your team's foundation will remain unchanged. Your eight, nine, ten participants will remain unchanged. "There may be a few minor adjustments here and there; you must be prepared to embrace them, digest them, and proceed," Rohit further elaborated.
