"It will mean everything to us..": India captain Rohit Sharma ahead of ICC WTC final
Rohit Sharma-led India will take on Australia for the ICC World Test Championship from 7th June at The Oval, London.
India had more work to do in their last series of the WTC 21-23 cycle compared to their opponents. However, they displayed professionalism and performed well against the Australian team when playing at home.
Their victory in the 2-1 series against this week's opponents was enough to secure their place in the WTC Final. Throughout the cycle, they faced tough competition from teams like South Africa, Sri Lanka, and even an improving England side that made a late surge.
Rohit Sharma Acknowledges Team's Ability to Adapt
Rohit Sharma, echoing the thoughts of the opposing captain, acknowledged the team's ability to adapt to various conditions. They achieved notable victories away from home against England and South Africa early on in their journey, which ensured a smoother path towards the end.
“Overall, if you look at the consistent cricket that we played, we displayed good cricket all around," Rohit said.
"It's a very tough tournament. We've got to play consistent cricket throughout the couple of years to get here.
“You need all the departments to do well for you. And I thought our strength really has been all three departments.”
Recent Series Against Australia Highlights Fierce Rivalry
The recent series between the two teams competing in the WTC final was another intense chapter in their fierce on-field rivalry.
In the upcoming neutral Test, it is expected that the balance between the sides will be equalized. However, India holds the advantage with their recent series victories during their last two tours to Australia.
India Favored at Neutral Venue
India can look forward to having more support at The Oval, and both teams chuckled at the idea that even neutral fans are likely to side with Rohit Sharma's team, especially considering that the Australians will soon be facing the Ashes campaign starting from June 16th.
"It (a neutral venue) is something different for both teams. No home support, although I think we usually get a bit more support anywhere we play," Rohit said with a smile.
"But no, it's always been nice, coming and playing at neutral venues for us.
"It's not just the two or three years of rivalry. There's so much history behind the two teams taking on each other. So that is what makes it more exciting, not just for the players but also for the people who are watching from all parts of the world."
Rohit Sees WTC final as Reward for Hard Work
In comparison, India's captain saw their qualification for the WTC final as a well-deserved reward for the team's hard work and resilience. After experiencing a defeat in the 2021 WTC final, they made a strong comeback during the 2021-2023 cycle, which further emphasized their determination and dedication.
“It'll mean everything to us. This is the ultimate format, the most challenging format," Rohit said.
"So to come out on top in this particular format will be great because it's not the effort for a month or two, it's the effort that we put in for the last few years.”