: Rohit Sharma’s brilliant hundred was certainly one of the positives in India’s five wicket defeat in the first ODI against Australia but one of the worrying factor according to the in-form opener is not picking up wickets in the middle overs.
“There were a lot of positives to be taken from that game especially scoring 300 runs in Perth. losing is not a positive but we did whatever we could. And also the fact that Australia batted very well,” Rohit said.
“Our morale is high because we have played good cricket and we know that. Only thing is that we need to learn as to how we can take wickets in the middle overs and how to build the pressure,” the opener was forthright in his assessment.
“If wickets fall in the middle, then it affects the momentum of the opposition team. That is what we need to do this game because we batted well. We bowled well with new ball but were halted in the middle overs because we didn’t take wickets then. And that’s what we have to learn,” Rohit added.
Even then, Rohit wouldn’t confirm if the Indian team was contemplating playing four fast bowlers, considering that Ishant Sharma is now fully fit and available.
“There are discussions going on (about picking four fast bowlers) but we all have to wait and see what MS (Dhoni) thinks and what he feels is the right combination to go forward with. Here in Brisbane, it will be very similar to what we got in Perth.
“I guess there will be a little more bounce. And Perth was on the slower side a little bit, once the shine was taken off the ball. I think here it will be a little more and the fast bowlers will have a little more assistance through a longer period,” he said.