India vs England: Captain Rohit Sharma says focus is on playing well as Team India is not 'unbeatable'

Team India, over the years, have gone onto become a dominant force on home soil across formats, but skipper Rohit Sharma does not want to become too complacent ahead of a five-match Test series against England that starts in Hyderabad on Thursday. India have remained unbeaten in Test series at home since 2012. The last Test series they lost on home soil was that year when they conceded a 1-0 lead against Alastair Cook’s England to lose the series 2-1.

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“I don’t think we are unbeatable. We don’t want to think like that. But whatever past records that we have over the last decade or so, do not guarantee that we will come out on top in this series. We have to play well to win this series,” Rohit told reporters during a pre-match press conference in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Earlier in January, India managed to level the two-match series against South Africa 1-1 in the second Test in Cape Town, and while the conditions will be different this time, Rohit said that win would give his team a lot of confidence.

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“The Cape Town win was good but this match is in Hyderabad. It is different conditions, different opposition. But yeah, that win has given us a lot of confidence and we can take that into this series,” said the 36-year-old.

Virat Kohli recently withdrew from the first two Tests against England, and it has been reported that ajat Patidar has been added to the India squad for the first two Tests. Rohit said that while the team management did have a look at some experienced names to replace Kohli in the squad, it was about giving youngsters an opportunity.

“We did think of going back to the experienced player to fill in Kohli’s absence, but then when will we give the youngsters the chance,” said Rohit.

Rohit also hinted that the team management might try and hand debut to a few young players in the squad. Uncapped Dhruv Jurel has been included in the squad as a third wicketkeeper, but it remains to be seen as to when her could make his Test debut and how he fits into the playing XI. “Sometimes you have to bring in certain players in conditions they are familiar with, we do not want to expose them to foreign conditions,” said the right-handed batter.