Rohit Sharma, ahead of the highly anticipated World Test Championship Final against Australia, has stressed the crucial role of concentration for batters to achieve success in English conditions. However, he also acknowledged The Oval Stadium as one of the premier batting wickets in England. As India gears up for their second consecutive World Test Championship Final, the team is bracing itself for a challenging encounter against Australia.
The Indian batters will face the formidable Australian bowlers in conditions that are traditionally demanding for batsmen. In light of the tough batting conditions in England, Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian team, expressed his views on The Oval, hailing it as one of the finest batting surfaces in England. He emphasized the need for sustained concentration over long periods of time to thrive in this format.
ALSO READ: Ravi Shastri Laments Absence of Bumrah, Highlights Australia’s Advantage in WTC Final
“The weather keeps changing a lot, so you have to keep concentrating for longer periods of time, and that is the challenge of this format. You have got to keep concentrating for longer periods of time. You will get that intuition when to take the bowlers on, and you have to be ready for it,” Rohit Sharma stated during an ICC event called ‘Afternoon with Test Legends’.
Understanding their individual strengths becomes crucial for the batsmen in these conditions. Rohit highlighted the significance of understanding the scoring patterns at The Oval, given its reputation as one of England’s premier batting tracks.
He further added, “You have to understand what your strengths are. It is nice to know the pattern of scoring runs here as we know that this is one of the best batting wickets in England. You get value for your shots, the square boundaries are quite quick, and it is about giving yourself the best chance of having success here.”
ALSO READ: Sunil Gavaskar Acknowledges Virat Kohli’s Return to Form and Fortune Ahead of WTC Final
Rohit Sharma boasts an impressive Test record, having amassed 3379 runs in 49 matches at an average of 45.66. His performances in England have been noteworthy, with an average of 42.36 in English conditions. As India’s opener, he aims to continue his impressive run in the country. Reflecting on Test cricket, Rohit acknowledged the continuous challenges it presents both as a player and a leader.
“It keeps challenging you. You want to be in these situations. You look forward, and as a person, it brings the best out of you. In the last 3-4 years in Test cricket, we have had good success. Now it is about crossing that final hurdle and giving that confidence to youngsters so that they can play in the way they want to play,” Rohit Sharma concluded.
