India, whose last ICC triumph was the 2013 Champions Trophy under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, once again failed to clinch an ICC trophy on home soil.
As India prepare to kick off their World Cup campaign against Ireland on Wednesday at New York’s Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, all eyes will be on Rohit to lead the Men in Blue to the elusive ICC title.With stars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja in the squad, India enter the tournament as one of the favorites.
What if another India vs Australia final happens at the T20 World Cup?
Head, who dashed India’s ICC title hopes twice last year with his explosive batting in the ODI World Cup final and the ICC World Test Championship final, would relish another showdown against Rohit’s men in the ICC T20 World Cup. Head has also expressed his excitement about watching “The Test,” the Amazon sports documentary on the Australian men’s cricket team’s dominance.
If both teams reach the final, they will face off again on June 29 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
TimesofIndia.com caught up with Head and spoke about the ODI World Cup final, the pressure of winning an ICC trophy on Rohit, Australia’s dominance, Pat Cummins‘ leadership, and much more…
Travis Head of Australia speaks during a press conference in Bridgetown, Barbados. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Be it the ICC World Test Championship final, the ODI World Cup final, or T20s, Travis, you are a man for every format of the game…
It’s been something that I’ve been working on for a while. It’s something that comes naturally, I guess. It’s nice to be able to switch between formats, though it’s tough to do. The challenge will come again in the summer, especially after a lot of IPL cricket, to make sure I’ve done the work to get ready for the Test matches. So, my mind’s already working on some things that I want to accomplish before that time. It comes naturally, I guess. Ronnie (Andrew McDonald) and Pat (Cummins) have instilled the confidence in me to go out and play the way I see it. And that’s all I try to do.
What was the IPL experience like with Sunrisers Hyderabad?
It’s been enjoyable. It’s been seven years since I’ve been back. It was very nice to have Pat and Dan (Daniel Vettori) with me—familiar faces. I loved my time with Abhishek; he’s an exceptional talent. We’re in a good mindset, and the guys know what they need to do.
Australia lost the first two matches of the ODI World Cup but made a remarkable comeback to win the title.
It was an amazing campaign. I missed the start of it and came in halfway through. We had to piece everything together and fix all the issues, but it was incredible. Winning the World Cup was a career-defining moment for me. We’ve had a couple of those moments, honestly, including the Test Championship, so yes, a couple of really nice moments.
Rohit Sharma (C) during a training session in New York. (PTI Photo)
Will Rohit Sharma be under any sort of pressure in the T20 World Cup, especially after losing the ODI World Cup at home?
I don’t think Rohit has too much to worry about. He’s been an exceptional leader for a period of time and is an exceptional player as well. So, I don’t think there’s any issue from that side of things. India is in good hands. I think you could probably name four or five teams that are going to be in the mix. Playing an attacking brand of cricket is crucial for them. With Rohit and Virat, and their exceptional bowling led by star bowler Bumrah, who has also been outstanding in the IPL, their chances are high. Their chances are probably similar to the three or four other teams that are in contention.
How about another India vs Australia final?
(Laugh) It would be nice. It would be nice to be in the final. I think everyone in India would love that, especially considering what’s happened in the last two finals. So, I’m sure India wants some revenge at some point. There would be good theater around it if that were the case. Let’s hope that we’re in it, and let’s hope you’re in it, and we’ll see what happens.
How would you describe the Australian aggressive brand of cricket?
I feel it comes with the continuity of the team. The team’s been together for four or five years now, and everyone’s had moments where they’ve been able to perform and play well. So the confidence within the team is about backing each player to do the job. In big moments in some of the games, someone has always been able to stand up, and it’s not always the same person. It’s someone different each time. I think that’s what makes a really good and creative team. It’s not always going to go right, and we’re not always going to win every single game, but in tough situations and tough moments, you know that hopefully you’re that person, but if not, the person next to you can stand up in that moment.
How would you describe Pat Cummins as a captain and as a player?
Pat (Cummins) really enjoys his time away from the game. Not just with his family, he also spends time with his mates, talks about big goals, has food and drinks. I think that brings a human aspect to it. The dressing room environment is relaxing and enjoyable. I like that he and Andrew McDonald (head coach) have established a great dynamic in terms of consistency in messaging, which has been steady for the last couple of years.
He’s probably evolved over the years and is now a lot more relaxed. He maintains a relaxed environment but also has a hard-nosed approach. He engages more with each player individually and discusses game plans, etc. It’s actually tough to pin down his style. He is very laid-back and relaxed, but in the background, he is very particular. He goes through a lot of stats and holds meetings. He’s very calm and to the point, so there aren’t too many long meetings or big team talks.
Can you describe the sports docuseries “The Test” on Amazon?
Yeah, it’s exciting. I think it provides a good perspective of what we’re like on and off the field. The first two series have been received pretty well, with everyone back home and around the world enjoying it. And I think this one will be much the same.