India skipper Rohit Sharma and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are mindful of the need to nurture young talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, and Dhruv Jurel. Despite their less experience, Rohit feels that these players have a mature head on their young shoulders.
“Honestly, we don’t need to speak too much to them. Jaiswal, Jurel, Sarfaraz, all of them… we saw glimpses of what they can do. So, they have everything that is required to be a top player for India in all three forms,” said Rohit ahead of India’s first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai.
“Obviously we have to nurture them, and we have to keep talking to them. But at the end of the day, you know, when you’re playing a sport like this, it all depends on what you think in your mind. I think they’re very clear with what they want to do. They’re very hungry to play cricket for India and be successful,” he elaborated.
The veteran noted that the fearless yet reliable approach of these players has made it much more comfortable for the management to handle them. He praised Jaiswal, who had a fantastic series against England at home and highlighted Jurel’s ability to perform under pressure.
“Jaiswal had a great series (against England at home). Jurel showed what he is capable of with the bat. Getting those runs and in tough situations was good…you know, being fearless and not worrying too much about what happens outside.
“So, you need all kinds of players these days. It’s not about just having one sort of player. You need all sorts of players who are fearless, and who are cautious at the same time. You know, responsible as well. I think we have that mix of everything, which is a good sign,” he added.
Rohit further acknowledged that playing red-ball cricket after a long break was challenging but has expressed confidence in his side given their performance in the training sessions. Notably, the opening Test will mark India’s first match in the format since their successful 4-1 home series against England earlier this year.
“It’s not easy when you don’t play (red-ball cricket) for a period of 6-8 months. But see, the good thing is that a lot of guys in the squad are quite experienced. It (long gap) has happened previously as well, which is why it was important for us to have this little camp over here in Chennai,” the 37-year-old said.
“We assembled here on the 12th, and we’ve had a good time spending hours on the field, getting everything together. Yeah, it is tough, but see, now people can manage themselves pretty well. The guys who have not played a lot of Tests went on to play the Duleep Trophy, which was good. So, in terms of preparation, in terms of readiness, I feel, you know, we are quite ready for this game and what lies ahead of us,” he concluded.
