Focus on entire tournament, not only on Pakistan clash: Rohit Sharma

The nine Indian players including the captain who is currently in UAE for the Asia Cup do not carry scars of the 1-4 defeat to England barely a week ago. They are fresh and aware that it won’t take long for everyone to switch to one-day mode or more specifically the World Cup mode.

Setting his eyes on the larger picture, India’s stand-in captain Rohit Sharma refused to give special importance to the India-Pakistan clash and cleared that India’s focus is on winning the Asia Cup, giving equal importance to every match of the tournament.

The 18^th Asia Cup begins on Saturday with the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka clash but the expectations are sky-high over the India-Pakistan encounter on September 19. The arch-rivals will face each other for the first time after the Champions Trophy final last year in England and there is a possibility that India might face their neighbours for as many as three times if both teams make all the way to the final on September 28.

However, Rohit Sharma made it clear that Asia Cup is just about one match. "The focus should be on the whole tournament because every nation is eyeing that title,” Rohit said at the captains’ meet on the eve of the tournament opener.

"Pakistan have played some great cricket of late and we are looking forward to that clash. However, by no means I am saying that focus should be on one game as all the games that are going to be played over here will be quite competitive. Also for the first time, I am captaining in a full tournament and it's exciting for me personally," he said.

While he played for Mumbai Indians during the first phase of IPL-1, Rohit last played in Dubai in a representative tournament for India A, way back in 2006.

"I am very happy to be back here. I didn't actually realise that we haven't played here for the past 12 years."

India are still searching for a perfect middle order combination in the one-dayers even as they have a settled top three batsmen in stand-in skipper himself, Shikhar Dhawan and regular captain Virat Kohli.

Asked if the Asia Cup will be a build-up to next year's World Cup in England, Rohit said: "In a way, you can say that. Every team wants to go to the World Cup in a good frame of mind. But we shouldn't be looking too far ahead. Obviously, the Asia Cup gives every team an opportunity to get the combination right before the World Cup."

However, during the captains' press meet, the talented Mumbaikar said that while the World Cup will be at the back of his mind, it is better to take one game at a time.

"I won't understand how Angie (Angelo Mathews), Sarfraz (Ahmed) or Mashrafe (Mortaza) are looking at it and what their strengths and weaknesses are. But as the tournament progresses, we will understand what teams are doing.

"The World Cup is too far ahead. We will play a lot of games before that. A lot of players will get an opportunity to stake a claim for a berth in that World Cup squad. It's a great opportunity to try for that perfect combination," said Rohit.

The nine Indian players including the captain who is currently in UAE for the Asia Cup do not carry scars of the 1-4 defeat to England barely a week ago.

“For the guys who were in England, it was a hectic tour and it is only fair that they go home and spend some time with their families and then come here. It is not easy but then weather is going to be same for all the teams. So we have to just focus on playing good cricket. That's all," he signed off.

India begin their campaign against minnows Hong Kong on September 18 before gearing up for the big-ticket clash against Pakistan on September 19.