Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Proteas Challenge Awaits Team India

Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Yashasvi Jaiswal opportunity

Sunil Gavaskar backed youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal to open the batting with Rohit Sharma and he believed that Shubman Gill can come to bat at No. 3. It will be a big opportunity for the left-hander to open the batting against a tough pace attack in South Africa and if he can end up playing a good innings, it can do wonders for his team and his chances of making his spot permanent.

Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: KL Rahul decision

Indian cricket team head coach Rahul Dravid said that KL Rahul will be keeping the wickets in the first Test against South Africa. Considering the difference between South African and Indian conditions, a tough challenge for him as well. The decision to not go with a specialist wicket-keeper allows India to play a stronger batting line-up but will it result in a possibly weaker fielding performance?

Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Young pace attack

Jasprit Bumrah will be spearheading the Indian cricket team pace attack but the duo of Mukesh Sharma and Mohammed Siraj will have their work cut out in absence of Mohammed Shami. A new challenge for them and if Shardul Thakur gets a chance, it will be a huge opportunity for him to prove his mettle.

Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Almost time

It is almost time for the press conference. The team composition will surely be a topic to watch out for and it will be interesting to see what Rohit Sharma says about the responsibilities given to key players in the side ahead of the first Test.

Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Dravid on young batters

“We encourage the players to play (in a manner) they feel most comfortable. In the end they are judged by the results they produce. They know that,” Dravid said.

“We want to encourage them in the way they play but also keeping the conditions in mind and certain, sort of tactical thing they have to adopt when they play in South Africa.

“The nature of ball, how it behaves over 80 overs, shots that they play early and later on. I think it’s about finding balance between having cricket smarts to read the game and understand the situation, and of course allowing to express yourself.

“Hopefully, they make smart decisions,” the coach had said on Christmas eve.

Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Pace challenge

The Indian cricket team batters will be up against a quality bowling attack comprising Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee. With South African pitches providing way more pace and bounce than those back home, it will be interesting to see how Rohit Sharma and co decide to approach the situation.

Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: South Africa squad

Temba Bavuma (captain), Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Keegan Petersen, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Tristan Stubbs (wk), Nandre Burger, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, David Bedingham.

Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Indian cricket team squad

Rohit Sharma (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk), Abhimanyu Easwaran (2nd Test).

Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Big test for Rohit

Mohammed Azharuddin (1992), Sachin Tendulkar (1996), Sourav Ganguly (2001), Rahul Dravid (2006-07), MS Dhoni (2010-11 and 2013-14) and Virat Kohli (2018-19 and 2021-22) have all tried but the series win seem to elude India. Will Rohit Sharma finally break the curse?

Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Final frontier

India have never won a Test series in South Africa till now. It is the only country where India have never won a series and it will certainly be a mental pressure for the side. With the Cricket World Cup 2023 heartbreak behind them, this will be the perfect chance for India to bounce back.

Rohit Sharma Press Conference Live: Hello and welcome

Welcome to the live coverage of Rohit Sharma’s press conference ahead of the first Test match between India and South Africa in Centurion. A crucial test for India in conditions where they have not fared well in the past.