Rohit Sharma rues “lack of preparation time” for defeat in WTC Final
Rohit even demanded a change in the current format, suggesting a 3-match series instead of a one-off game.
India captain Rohit Sharma after WTC Final loss (Image via Twitter)
India captain Rohit Sharma looked dejected after his team’s defeat to Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final on Sunday. Not just Sharma but all the players and the support staff wore a deserted look after Australia thrashed India by 209 runs. It was hard for the players to fathom that all the hard work done through the course of the past two years yielded them this- a big defeat. But there was no place to hide.
India’s continued failures and abysmal record in ICC knockouts are out in the open for everyone to see. The team has failed to win an ICC title in the last ten years. In these years, India have lost in the 2014 T20 World Cup semifinal, the 2015 ODI WC semifinal, the 2016 T20 WC semifinal, the 2017 Champions Trophy Final, the 2019 WC Semifinal, the 2021 WTC Final, the 2022 T20 WC Semifinal, and now the 2023 WTC Final.
Over the years, it has been the same old story for India, top-order failures, bowlers not stepping up, and selection blunders. The 2023 WTC Final was no different. It all started with Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid deciding to not include R Ashwin in the Playing XI despite his phenomenal numbers and the nature of the wicket. India got fooled by the extra layer of grass on the wicket and played four seamers.
Travis Head and Steve Smith made India pay for this mistake by taking on the extra pacers. By the time Rohit Sharma and the Indian bowlers realised what was the right length to bowl at The Oval wicket, it was too late. Australia had piled up a massive 469 in their first innings and on the same green top, India were bundled for 296. The bowlers pulled up their socks in the second inning but only to concede a 93-run partnership between Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc.
Rohit Sharma demands a change in format
India had a massive 444 to chase in the fourth innings, which, quite obviously did not happen. The fans were hoping for a Gabba 2.0 but this team neither had that intent nor a spirited captain like Ajinkya Rahane. India found themselves in a dilemma which cost them the game. Australia won by a massive 209 runs and it was another ICC Final loss for India.
While there are plenty of reasons, captain Rohit Sharma chose to put the blame on the bowlers and the lack of preparation time. Sharma said that India should have gotten 20-25 days of preparation time leading into this big game. “Ideally, yes, an event like this, final like this, you need a lot of time to prepare yourself and that is what we did in the last time when we were here in England,” Sharma was quoted saying by PTI. “I would prefer if we have 20, 25 days to prepare for a game like this.”
Rohit even demanded a change in the current format, suggesting a 3-match series instead of a one-off game.
“I would love that. But is there a time? That’s the big question. But honestly, in a big event like this, you need to have fair opportunities for both teams. You know, a three-match series would be nice, but it’s about finding that window where it can fit in.
“But I would love to have – in an event like this, you work hard for two years and then you have only one shot at it. So, it’s not really – you cannot get into that momentum that you need in Test cricket, you know. Test cricket is all about finding that rhythm, finding that momentum as well. So, I think, yeah if in the next cycle, if it is possible, three-match series would be ideal,” said Sharma at the post-match press conference.
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