Rohit Sharma insists ‘no-one is guaranteed’ a place in India’s World Cup squad and says players must impress against Australia and New Zealand to justify selection.
India, second in the ICC rankings, face Australia in a three-match ODI series starting in Sydney on Saturday.
Virat Kohli’s team, who recently beat the Baggy Greens in a Test series in Australia for the first time ever, then travel to New Zealand, playing five more one-day internationals.
Opening batsman Sharma expects the Indian squad to remain roughly the same for the World Cup but says no-one can afford to take their eye off the ball and let their standards slip.
‘We have 13 one-day internationals before the World Cup. I think more or less you’ll see the same squad in the World Cup,’ he said.
‘Maybe there will be one or two changes, depending on form and injuries. I don’t see any drastic changes.
‘Looking at the slots, they are pretty much taken. Having said that, everything will depend on form and no-one is guaranteed to be on the plane to England.
‘Everyone needs to be on top form. We are all aware of that. We need to keep doing the right things and keep performing.
‘We are confident going into the World Cup.’
Sharma, 31, has also backed MS Dhoni to play a key role in India’s World Cup campaign.
Dhoni, one of India’s all-time greats in one-day cricket, has played over 400 games for his country but was dropped from the squad for the series against West Indies and Australia.
‘Over the years we have seen what sort of presence MS has in the dressing room and on the field,’ Sharma added.
‘With him being around, there is a sense of calmness in the group, which is very important, and also a bit of help to the captain because he stands behind the stumps.
‘He has captained India for so many years and been successful. So him being around with the team always is helpful. He is like a guiding light around the group.
‘Batting down the order, getting us over the line, his finishing touch is very important and he has finished so many games for us.
‘His calmness and advice… what he thinks about the game and what we should do right now is very important.’
