Centurion (South Africa): India skipper Rohit Sharma on Monday said, as a leader, he wants his team to "achieve" what other Indian sides in the past have failed to do in South Africa. Since their first Test series in South Africa in 1992, India has never won a series in the rainbow nation.
India will take on South Africa in the first of the two Tests beginning here on Tuesday. "Want to achieve what nobody has achieved in this part of the world," Rohit said during the pre-match press conference.
"These are very important matches in terms of where we stand as a team. Also to look back that we have never won a series here as well, it's a big opportunity for us to do well here," Rohit said.
"We came pretty close the last two times when we toured here but again we have come to this place with a lot of confidence to try and achieve what nobody (Indian) team has ever achieved in this part of the world," the skipper said, exuding confidence.
So will it act as a balm for the World Cup final defeat and he was straight? "I don't know whether a Test series win in South Africa can be a balm for a World Cup final defeat. I mean World Cup is a World Cup. Itni mehnaat ki haai, kuch toh result milein. (We have been working so hard, it's time we get some big result). We all want that," Rohit answered typically in his style.
The 36-year-old also did not want to speak about his cricketing future, just saying that he wants to enjoy the game. "I want to play whatever cricket is there in front of me," he said without elaborating on his plans.
It is expected that KL Rahul will be preferred over KS Bharat as a wicket-keeper, considering his batting skills, and will keep wickets in the first Test but the skipper said it will be up to the wicketkeeper-batter to decide how long he wants to don the gloves in the five-day format.
"I am not sure how long KL Rahul would want to keep wickets but he is keen as of now," said Rohit.
He also indicated that KL Rahul will bat in the middle order as his experience and game awareness in those slots in invaluable. "He got 100 last time while opening the innings. But this time, he will play in the middle-order, we have seen he does most of the things right in that position in ODIs.He bats in the middle order, he understands situations and is an experienced player. He knows what exactly what is required at different stages of the game and gives us solid balance," added the Indian skipper.
India's World Cup hero, Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of the series with an ankle injury and Rohit termed the speedster's absence as a big loss. "Shami will be a big miss for what he has done for us over the years. Someone will fill up (the) hole but it won't be easy," the Mumbaikar added.
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