Stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma is in no mood for distractions, it seems. Both on and off the field. Especially, after having lost to Bangladesh for the first time in a T20I, in the first match of the three-match series on November 3.
also read
- ICC Champions Trophy: Jasprit Bumrah's absence a relief for Bangladesh, says former batter
- ICC Champions Trophy: Team India will travel to Dubai without their families, BCCI confirms
- England ODI: Shubman Gill's hundred, disciplined bowling hand India giant win at Ahmedabad
- Who will keep wickets for India at Champions Trophy? Head coach Gautam Gambhir clarifies after England whitewash
Ahead of the second ODI at Rajkot today, during the press conference, Sharma was answering a question about Team India trying out youngsters, when a journalist's phone rang. Sharma was clearly perplexed, and he told the journalist: “Please keep the phone on silent, boss”. He went on to complete the answer, saying how T20 was a format where they can try out the young players, who might then go on to make the ODI and Test teams, too.
Sharma was at it again, on the eve of the first T20I. He was commenting on India's performance and ranking in T20Is, when a journalist interrupted him. “I am not done yet, Sir,” he remarked. He then went on to say how the team wants to do well in all formats of the game.
India take on Bangladesh in the second T20I at Rajkot today. They lost the smog-hit opening T20I in Delhi by seven wickets on Sunday, a stunning result against a side which landed in India after a players' strike over pay and other issues, and the suspension of their biggest cricketer―Shakib Al Hasan―for failure to report corrupt approaches.
India have not had the kind of success in T20Is as they have enjoyed in the other two formats of late and that is evident from the results this year. They have already lost a series at home this year―to Australia―before drawing against South Africa who were otherwise hammered in Tests.