India will battle Australia in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 for their third ODI title on November 19 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Speaking to the media ahead of the game, Rohit Sharma presented his views on India's 2003 defeat to Australia and revealed if any changes were likely for the trophy clash.
Standing in the way of India and a third ICC ODI World Cup triumph are record champions Australia. The Men in Blue will battle their toughest foes in Ahmedabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium on November 19, 2023, aiming to repeat what they did on home soil 12 years ago. India will also have revenge on their minds, two decades after Australia handed them a humiliating defeat when the teams last met in a Cricket World Cup final. (Streaming | Scorecard | Full Coverage)
Speaking to the media about the stinging loss two decades ago, India captain Rohit Sharma played down the talk of "aura" surrounding Australia, and instead directed focus back to the task at hand.
"I don't believe in that aura and all that," Sharma said. "Like I said, you have to come to the ground well and play good cricket. I don't believe in what we did in the last 10 matches.
"Of course, it's important to have confidence in such matches. We played 10 matches well. But again, if you make mistakes tomorrow, then whatever good work you did in those 10 matches, it's a chance to get wasted. So, I think, keep yourself balanced, keep yourself calm, don't think about the future, think about the present and play your game.
"The mantra we have followed is this only, we haven't brought the past game into this game, or what happened in the past or what's going to happen in the future we haven't thought much about all that, we have only thought about who the next opposition is and how we have to play cricket against them and what is our strength and what is their strength, how to explore their weakness, and how to increase our strength.
"We focus more on all this - not what happened 20 years ago. And I don't think we want to think about such things and do that much. We want to think about the present and prepare well."
India have already beaten Australia once in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The last two times the teams have played in the ODI World Cup knockouts, each have won a game each; they, consequently, are no strangers to each other. Quizzed whether India might have a suprise selection in store for the Australians - someone like Ravichandran Ashwin - Sharma kept his cards close to his chest.
"I don't want to say anything right now about what we're going to do and what we're not going to do," Sharma said. "But all the players know this.
"We talked about this at the start of the tournament. Any player can play anytime. So, the player doesn't have the mentality that I have won the tournament, I will relax. There is no such feeling. Because everyone knows that there can be a chance to play anytime.
"Like you saw, there was an injury, and then two boys got a chance. Guys have done that job perfectly. Shami and Surya. Surya didn't get a chance to bat much. But Shami, you know, came, and did the job well. He could have relaxed his mind easily. He could have said, I think I am done, they won't make me play. But all cricketers are quite professional. Everyone knows that a chance can come anytime.
"This is the World Cup. It doesn't happen every year. So, being mentally ready is very important. I think I will keep 15 people available for tomorrow. And then we'll see who will play."
India will play Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium on November 19, 2023, for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Final.