“It’s not like we know what’s going to happen on these pitches,” Rohit said ahead of India’s semi-final against Australia. “We don’t know which pitch will be used in the semi-final, but whatever it is, we will have to adapt and see how it goes. And it’s not our home either – this is Dubai. We don’t play so many matches here, it’s new for us as well.”
There has been a feeling among other teams that this unusual schedule – a function of both India’s economic and geopolitical power – has conferred a competitive advantage to India. But conditions have still varied in Dubai, Rohit said.
“The three matches we have played, the nature of the surface was the same, but the pitch behaved differently in the three games,” he said. “Against New Zealand, we saw when their pacers bowled, they got the ball to swing and seam, which we didn’t see in the previous two matches when our bowlers were bowling first. And in the evening, it is a little cold, so there is a chance of the ball swinging.
“We also don’t know how each wicket will play. They look the same, but when you play on the pitches, they behave differently. So the pitch does throw up different challenges and as a batter, we have to think if we can play certain shots or not, and bowlers also have to adjust.”
“Australia have been such a great team over the years, so we will expect some fightback, and some nervy times in the middle. We are talking about a semi-final. There will be pressure on both teams to win that game”
Rohit Sharma
“Look, it’s a great opposition to play against Australia,” Rohit said. “All we have to do is what we’ve been thinking about the last three games. And we have to approach that game in a similar fashion. We understand the opposition and how they play.
“Australia have been such a great team over the years, so we will expect some fightback and some nervy times in the middle as well. We are talking about a semi-final. There will be pressure on both teams to win that game.”
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