like every team, Oz have weaknesses too: Rohit

Rohit Sharma is sublime with his shots when he gets going and he is almost the same with his replies. Direct, to the point, elegant and pleasing — he told the international media at the SCG with a winning smile that India has no scars, sledging is ok in limits, the team will play to its strengths as always and that, like any other team, Australia, too, have their weaknesses.

“Every team has some kind of weakness and Australia have got some as well, they have definitely struggled against quality fast bowling. If you look at the game against New Zealand, they got all out for 150. Even the other night in Adelaide against Pakistan, they seemed to be in a bit of trouble. Overall they are good batting unit...We’re a different bowling attack, we’ve to stick our strengths. We’ve our ways to come and counter them, whether it’ll be spin bowling or fast bowling. You’ll see that tomorrow,” Rohit promised.

As for India’s Thursday strategy, for Rohit it will be no different from the other games thus far in the tournament, and that includes tackling the menace and speed of Mitchel Starc. “Our approach has to be the same as it has been throughout the series… the opening partnership sets up the game for the rest of the order to come and bat. We know what Starc is capable of but we should stick to our strengths. It’s important for the top three to lay the foundation for the others to follow,” he said.

Today, India may look like a spic and span team, all games won and on a trot to the Finals but the makeover since the Test and Tri-series has everyone foxed despite their wonderment being answered by various Team India players, who Dhoni has assigned to talk to the media as also the skipper himself. Ask Rohit about the Test and Tri-series scars and much like the elegant pull he engineers on the field, he says simply: “I don’t think it matters.”

“What happened was in the past. We never wanted to carry it into the World Cup. We always spoke about this. We know how important the World Cup is, and to come out and play some good cricket. So now it’s just a matter of two more hurdles,” he said with a lot of natural confidence.

Such is Rohit’s reputation with stylish, clean and yet immensely destructive shots that a question popped up about him ever having thought of playing ugly (read innovative, T20-style) shots and it had him laughing.

“That’s a very interesting question. I mean, if I play a good shot, I don’t think I need to play an ugly shot. I’ll just stick to good shots,” he said sportingly.

On a more serious note, the opener explained that big shots are not easy and come with an array of technical know-how. “When you play those big shots, it’s important to get your basics right. A lot of technical issues go into that. You need to hold your shape. If you can hit straight over the bowler maintain shape, I don’t think you need to play any fancy shots,” Rohit replied.

The most endearing thing about Rohit over the years has been his simple approach to life and cricket even though he has been in and out of the team for a pretty long time before he found his wont as an opener. “Batting up the order has changed everything for me,” he said, talking about his tumultuous years in cricket so far and how that hasn’t played with his mind to fall into pre-match complexities.

 “I do things which I feel I need to, whether it’s a semi-final, final or just a league game. I try to keep it very simple. I do things which I need to, and it helps my confidence going into any game, not just the semi-finals. Also, if we play any tri-angular series or a league game of the World Cup, I just try to keep it very simple. Go with a free mind, not too much of a burden in my head, so that’s how I approach any game,” he said.

But what does he think is that one thing that will make all the difference in this semi-final. “I think our attitude. It’s something which has changed completely from what it was before. Everyone’s enjoying each other’s successes, whether it’s bowling, batting or fielding. We just have to stay in the present and look forward to the semi-final… we know what it takes to come out as a winner. So hopefully we can start well tomorrow. That will be crucial whether we bat or bowl,” Rohit said.

That, and the fact that his team knows how to win big game matches. And hopefully, that’s enough to carry forward the momentum into the Final.