On a cloudy morning in London, Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma was among the four squad members who attended the optional practice session. R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, and K S Bharat were the other players present, along with the net bowlers. Although Rohit was seen nursing his left thumb after being hit in the nets, he did not appear to be in significant discomfort.
Regarding the team combination for the upcoming match, Rohit remained tight-lipped, keeping the suspense alive until the toss. India needs to decide whether to play two spinners or opt for four pacers.
When asked about the potential exclusion of R Ashwin, Rohit stated, “I’ve not said that Ashwin is not going to play. We’ll wait until tomorrow – because one thing I have seen here – the pitch actually changes quite a bit day to day.” He emphasized the need to be adaptable since the pitch conditions can vary throughout the game.
The pitch at The Oval displayed a greenish tinge less than 24 hours before the match, indicating that an extra pace option might be beneficial if the overcast conditions persist in the morning.
Rohit acknowledged the changing nature of the pitch in England, stating, “I don’t know how drastically, but the pitch changes quite a bit in this part of the world.” He referred to the previous Test played at The Oval, where the pitch improved over time, becoming slower and aiding reverse swing on the fifth day.
While this Test at The Oval is the first-ever five-day match held in June, Rohit downplayed its significance, noting that the ground has hosted County matches in the past month. The Indian team is well aware of the conditions and what to expect over the next five days.
Reflecting on India’s loss to New Zealand in the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final two years ago, Rohit admitted that mistakes were made, particularly in the decision to play two spinners in overcast conditions, which backfired. The team has discussed the errors made in that match and aims to avoid repeating them.
Following the Indian Premier League (IPL), the turnaround was quick for the players, with only a week’s preparation for the WTC final. Rohit acknowledged the lack of breaks in the cricketing calendar, stating, “We’ve been playing cricket like this for the last, I don’t know how many years, series after series. I don’t know when was the last time we had a good amount of break.” However, he noted that the players are accustomed to playing a lot of cricket and are prepared for the challenges ahead.
The Indian team is focused on their preparations, taking into account the changing pitch conditions and past mistakes, as they aim to perform well in the crucial WTC final against New Zealand.