The Indian cricketers held a media conference at their team hotel in Adelaide. © kareem
After the tragic demise of Phillip Hughes, the focus is back on cricket as India and Australia get set for the start of the four-Test series on Tuesday at the Adelaide Oval. The visitors have been in the country for more than a fortnight and have acclimatized well with a couple of warm-up games.
With the entire focus centred upon Phillip Hughes and the Australian team, the Indians have been comfortably perched, having been allowed the rare luxury of having some privacy. The batsmen got runs in the warm-up games while Varun Aaron and Co. impressed during their lengthy spells.
If there's one cause of concern, it is surrounding around India's captain MS Dhoni. The talismanic captain has arrived in Australia and is all set to test his thumb during India's net session on Sunday. Virat Kohli was named as the stand-in captain for the now postponed Brisbane Test and unless Dhoni shows plenty of improvements, it's very unlikely that he will be risked for the first Test.
In a rare gesture, India sent in six players for the customary media conference at the team hotel on Saturday evening. Speaking to the press, Rohit Sharma, fresh from his world record score of 264 in a recent ODI against Sri Lanka, exuded confidence about his team doing well in the upcoming Test series.
The middle order batsman mentioned that India's preparations were right on track and the team was looking forward to the Adelaide Test. "Just because we have not done it does not mean we cannot do it," was his reply when quizzed about his team's chances.
"We have had a good start and preparation on this tour, and hopefully we can finish it well too. We have had a couple of practice games, which I think will help us going into this Test match. It will be a big test for the guys here for the first time. A big challenge. We know their bowling attack quite well. I am quite determined to do well here," Rohit added.
The attention then moved onto the recent sad events surrounding Phil Hughes' death. Rohit, who attended Hughes' funeral, said the upcoming Test match could help in getting over the passing of Hughes. "It was a very sad incident, but cricket has to go on, the game will go on," he said. "Mentally, everyone is focused to do well. When you go out on the park, the only thing is about how to perform and give your best," he added.
Ishant Sharma was of the same view and also insisted that the incident will not change the way the game is played and the bowlers - be it himself or someone like Mitchell Johnson - would continue with their natural action. "We are professional cricketers, we have to move on," Ishant said. "What has happened is really bad and everyone was really shocked, but we are professional cricketers and need to look forward to what is coming next for us and that is what we will do," he added.
When asked about his preparations for the series, Ishant was confident about his abilities but refused to look too far ahead. "I am quite focused on the present. We all are. I am quite determined to do quite well. Our focus right now is the first Test at Adelaide Oval," Ishant said.
The lead Indian pacer wasn't willing to share his game-plan, insisting that it depended one individual Australian batsmen. It depends batsman to batsman, he said. You need to think from a batsman's point of view. What is he thinking about?
Regular opener, Murali Vijay, who is coming on the back of a successful series in England, said the openers would play a huge role in Australia and providing good starts would be the key for his team. "It's important in Australia that you have an aggressive opener who can turn things around," Vijay said.
He also added that he was looking forward to the challenge of facing Mitchell Johnson. "Mitchell Johnson is, of course, one of the best bowlers in the world. It's a good challenge for us," Vijay added.
When asked if he or anyone in the Indian team feared the pace of Johnson, Vijay's reply was a confident 'NO'.
Shikhar Dhawan, who is expected to open with Murali Vijay in the first Test, admitted that the challenge of facing the world's best bowler in his home conditions will be tough. "Mitchell Johnson is one of the best bowlers in the world and he has really good pace," Dhawan said. "I have faced him lots of times back in India. I will be facing him for the first time in Australia so its going to be a good challenge," he further noted.
The four Test series kicks off in Adelaide on Tuesday. The second Test will now be held in Brisbane with Melbourne and Sydney rounding off the Tests.
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