India riding a wave, says Rohit

India have put aside the unpleasant happenings off-the-field and are firmly focussed on the finals, which they are confident of winning, middle order batsman Rohit Sharma declared.

"Everyone is geared up for the final, we are looking forward to it. The off-field controversies are behind us and we are only looking ahead to playing cricket," he said on Friday.

"Australia have won two matches against us (in the league stage) but that is in the past. The finals will be a different ball game," the youngster added.

Sharma said India’s last game against Australia in Sydney was ample evidence of the Blues’ fighting qualities. "We played the last game in Sydney really well, from being 51/4 to scoring almost 300 was a magnificent effort," he said.

Sharma was especially pleased with his own form. "So far it’s been very good and I wish to continue what I have been doing. I am confident enough ahead of the finals. It would be good if we can start very well," he said of the best-of-three title clash. The Mumbai batsman, who will turn out for Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League in April, felt the Australian tour was a tough test.

"Australia is a place where performance is noticed. It serves as a platform for your career. I feel all the youngsters doing well here have great careers ahead of them," he said, adding "I think I have made the most of the opportunities. But there are some things which I would like to improve upon."

Vital among the lessons he has learnt on the tour is building partnerships. "The knock I played against Australia in Melbourne, was a pointer to the importance of building partnerships in the middle. Even though we were chasing about 160, we had lost quick wickets and were under pressure," he said about his match-winning unbeaten 39 after India had slumped to 102/5.

Consistency is another aspect Sharma is striving for. "It’s a disappointment that I am doing well in patches. I need to convert the good starts into big scores," he confessed. Sharma said he was not intimidated by the big names in world cricket.

"When I started my career, in the gullie, I never backed out to the fearsome fast bowlers. So now, I never think about a Brett Lee or a Shoaib Akhtar bowling to me. I just play the ball on merit," he said.

Speaking about the Adelaide incident when he was slow off the blocks to be run out while running for an injured captain Dhoni, Sharma said it was the umpire who had held him back. "He told me not to take a start," he said, adding "but Dhoni came up to me and said ‘that’s fine.’ He also told me that I would have to run for him again should the need arise."

News Source : Samachar