On the eve of Champions Trophy semifinal against Sri lanka, Indian captain talks about expectations, pressure, opposition and future. Excerpts
On expectations and pressure
First of all, we never have expectations of doing well over here, so we don’t know who all are saying that we have to win this tournament. So I think it started by you guys and ended by you guys. We just came here to play some good cricket, and that’s what we have been doing. We are working hard, and that’s what is really now at hand. Every next session that we are going into we want to improve ourselves.
On difference between Sri lanka
of 2011 and 2013
Well, not really because even if both the teams were the same, they have been a significant amount of changes that have been made to the format, quite a few rules and regulations. So I don’t think we can really count on all those stats. So I think it’s very different, and also the fact that both the teams are looking very different. It means both the teams are good. I think Sri lanka, they are a really good squad. They are going through a phase where they are missing some of their players. So I think it’s important for both the teams to do well, and I think they’re a very good team.
On roadmap towards 2015 World Cup
I think 2015 is too far away. We’ll have to see how the guys shape up. All of them are quite young, so very good chances that most of them will feature in the 2015 World Cup, provided fitness and form are two things.
On transition of the team
As far as the transition is concerned, I think the players have taken up the responsibility really well in both the cases. You may spot a few talents, but ultimately it is up to the individuals to do well.
On Duncan Fletcher’s influence on the team
Well, Duncan is someone who knows the basics of cricket really well. The small, very little things that he can spot right at the start is something that’s very crucial for all the youngsters, and it’s a key for us, also. When he came in we were going through a phase where some of the senior cricketers that we had, they left us. And also the fact that we were at the top of what we could have done in cricket at that point of time. So he is always someone who would have felt the pressure; to maintain that kind of performance is very difficult.
On Jayawardene and Sangakkara
I think they are a dangerous side, so we shouldn’t just concentrate on two individuals. I think overall if you see their first seven batsmen all of them are very dangerous, so I think we’ll concentrate on all of them rather than thinking about the two individuals.
On India handling Malinga better than others
I think it also has to do with the fact that we play amongst each other a lot, so we see a lot of Malinga, we understand him better, we play him in the sub-continental conditions where he gets a lot of reversing where he is one of the most difficult bowlers to face. Also I feel we get to see him. So I think it’s all these small, small things that has really made that kind of an impact, and most of the batsmen they have faced him, but still, he’s one of the most difficult bowlers to score off freely, especially in the shorter format.
On facing England in the final
Well, I’m worried about tomorrow. I don’t think too much far ahead, but as it comes. I will just repeat myself; we don’t really worry about things that are not in our control, so the thing is to perform very well tomorrow.
ICC-cricket.com