Memories of Sri Lanka’s humbling defeat to India in the Asia Cup final in September will add extra motivation to the team when they face the hosts in Thursday’s key World Cup clash, coach Chris Silverwood said.
India bundled out Sri Lanka for just 50 for a 10-wicket win in the final of the regional Asia Cup in Colombo in a near-perfect build-up to the 50-overs showpiece event.
Rohit Sharma’s men have been in top form in the World Cup, winning all six of their round robin games, and face the island nation who have managed to win two of their six games.
“I’d rather hope that the defeat in the Asia Cup would give more motivation to the boys to come out and obviously fight tomorrow, show plenty of spirit and get stuck in to the Indian side,” Englishman Silverwood told reporters on Wednesday.
“They’re a very good side, we know that, we’ve seen them play some superb cricket this tournament so far.
“But I think it’s a good opportunity for our boys to show what they’re made of as well,” Silverwood added.
Today, India and Sri Lanka will return to the Wankhede Stadium, which hosted the 2011 World Cup final that the hosts went on to win by six wickets. After losing their opening three games, Sri Lanka appeared to have arrested their slide when they picked up successive wins over the Netherlands and champions England.
However, a defeat to Afghanistan in their previous match once again complicated their push to qualify for the semi-finals.
Silverwood said Sri Lanka would have to contend with a very strong Indian bowling attack if they are to return to winning ways.
“I think any team in the world would want an attack like that, to be honest,” he said.
“We see that as a great challenge for our guys. We see it as an opportunity to go out and play against the best and... pit ourselves against that.”
‘I know suddenly I’ll be a bad captain’, says India’s RohitIndia’s Rohit Sharma on Wednesday lauded the players for making him look good as a leader in the team’s unbeaten World Cup run but said he will “suddenly be a bad captain” if they falter.
The hosts will take on Sri Lanka at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium today in a bid to extend their winning streak to seven and seal a semi-final spot.
Opening batsman Rohit has led from the front with 398 runs including one hundred and two half-centuries and made good tactical moves in the field.
“I mean, look, you read the situation, you see where the game is going, you see what is the right move in that particular situation,” Rohit told reporters.
“You try and analyse all those things and you try and make a move. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t work.”
He added: “When things look good, everything looks good, everything works well. I know how this whole thing works. I’m quite aware of one game here and there, I know suddenly I’ll be a bad captain. I try and do what is necessary from the team’s perspective and be sure of that.”
All-rounder Hardik Pandya will miss his third match of the tournament after he twisted his ankle and has been away for rehabilitation. Rohit did not put a date to Pandya’s return but remains hopeful for his return soon.
“No, see, his procedure after the injury is very positive. Right now, he is not available for tomorrow’s match,” said Rohit. “So, it’s possible, as he is progressing, it’s possible, hopefully, we’ll get a chance to see him as soon as possible.”
India have lived up to their tag of favourites as they look to repeat the 2011 title winning performance at home.
However Rohit played down the pressure from fans, saying the team is having fun.
“I don’t think it’s pressure, but it’s nice that people are expecting a lot of things from us. And, a nice way to respond is we know how,” he said.
“But at this point in time, we are enjoying the cricket that we are playing and we want to continue to do that as long as possible and as deep as possible.”
The two teams return to the venue where MS Dhoni’s India beat Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup final to lift the trophy after 28 years.
“Yes, we have won six games, but there have been a lot of games where we did not have a perfect game. And you cannot have a perfect game, but near perfect game is what you want as a team,” he said.
He added, “Every day, you have to turn up, and you have to turn up well, thinking that this is a fresh day, fresh game, fresh opposition.”