Rohit Sharma eyes WTC final berth during Test series against Australia
- Planet Sport writer
- 28 February 2023
Captain Rohit Sharma has reiterated India's ambition to reach the final of the International Cricket Council's World Test Championship later this year.
India currently occupy second position in the 2021-23 WTC standings. Australia are in first position. Sri Lanka are in third position and South Africa fourth.
"It will be a great achievement for us to reach the WTC final, but we know that we need to cross that final hurdle, and for that we need to win the next game as well," said Sharma ahead of India's third Test against Australia in Ahmedabad later this week.
"So the focus is on this Test, how we can win this game, and not look too far ahead, because after this game we've got one more Test match to be played, and then after that there's two months of Indian Premier League.
"There's a lot of time to think about the final, but right now it's very important for us to focus on this one and see how we can turn it around and win this game as well, because in the last game we were put under pressure for sure, we can expect the same here as well, so we need to be ready for that."
The 2021-23 WTC final will be played at Lord's in London from 7 June. New Zeeland are the reigning champions after beating India in the 2019-21 final. England, meanwhile, won't likely qualify for the 2021-23 final after slipping to fifth position in the standings.
"Actually, I don't want to talk about the World Test Championship. We're not there yet. We want to win this game and then talk about it. That'll be the right thing to do," added Sharma.
"But just speaking of it from the outside, clearly, I don't think England is going to qualify, so both teams who are going to play the final will be neutral teams. It's going to be exciting. There's no home advantage, no conditions advantage."
