NEW DELHI: After winning the T20I series against Sri Lanka 3-0, the Indian cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, is gearing up for the ODI series in Colombo starting from Friday.
Having announced their 20-over retirement after winning India’s first international trophy in more than a decade, both Rohit and star batsman Virat Kohli sat out this week’s 3-0 series sweep by the tourists.
For the first of three ODIs in Colombo on Friday, both are back on the road for the first time since the June Barbados final.
Ahead of the first ODI on Friday, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) shared a video on their official X handle that has Rohit Sharma recalling the T20 World Cup title triumph and how he is looking forward to a partnership with new head coach Gautam Gambhir that is going to hold ‘Indian cricket as paramount’.
Recalling India’s T20 World Cup title triumph, Rohit says in the video, “Wow! What a month it was. Mazaa hi aa gaya, flooded with memories, etched in history, aisa moment jo zindagi bhar humaare saath rahega. So much so that it still feels that I can put my pads on anytime for the shortest format, (chuckles), nahi yaar chhodo bhai, I had my time, I enjoyed it, it’s time to move on.”
Looking forward to the ODI series against Sri Lanka, the Indian captain says, “Time aa gaya hai for us to get back on the field, ek naye daur ke saath, ek nayi shuruyaat, ek naye coach ke saath. A partnership that is going to hold Indian cricket as paramount. It’s time to hit the reset button aur ab time aa gaya hai for us to get back on the field. Wahi energy, wahi jazbe ke saath, Team India utregi phir ek baar maidan par, kuch naye aur kuch jaane-pehchaane chehron ke saath. This is Team India and this is your captain Rohit Sharma speaking. Let’s go!”
Having announced their 20-over retirement after winning India’s first international trophy in more than a decade, both Rohit and star batsman Virat Kohli sat out this week’s 3-0 series sweep by the tourists.
For the first of three ODIs in Colombo on Friday, both are back on the road for the first time since the June Barbados final.
Ahead of the first ODI on Friday, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) shared a video on their official X handle that has Rohit Sharma recalling the T20 World Cup title triumph and how he is looking forward to a partnership with new head coach Gautam Gambhir that is going to hold ‘Indian cricket as paramount’.
Recalling India’s T20 World Cup title triumph, Rohit says in the video, “Wow! What a month it was. Mazaa hi aa gaya, flooded with memories, etched in history, aisa moment jo zindagi bhar humaare saath rahega. So much so that it still feels that I can put my pads on anytime for the shortest format, (chuckles), nahi yaar chhodo bhai, I had my time, I enjoyed it, it’s time to move on.”
Looking forward to the ODI series against Sri Lanka, the Indian captain says, “Time aa gaya hai for us to get back on the field, ek naye daur ke saath, ek nayi shuruyaat, ek naye coach ke saath. A partnership that is going to hold Indian cricket as paramount. It’s time to hit the reset button aur ab time aa gaya hai for us to get back on the field. Wahi energy, wahi jazbe ke saath, Team India utregi phir ek baar maidan par, kuch naye aur kuch jaane-pehchaane chehron ke saath. This is Team India and this is your captain Rohit Sharma speaking. Let’s go!”
Although India may be looking for yet another clean sweep, their opponents, Sri Lanka, will be just as hungry, if not more so, to win after suffering a number of setbacks and injuries that have sidelined six of their top fast bowlers.