NEW DELHI: India captain Rohit Sharma will rely on the "massive" home support his squad receives to win the ODI World Cup. India last won the ODI World Cup in 2011 at home, when MS Dhoni and company hoisted the cherished trophy.
"I've never seen it so close. Even when we won in 2011, I was not part of the squad. But yeah, it looks beautiful, so many memories behind the trophy as well, the past, the history. Yeah, so, it looks beautiful and hopefully we can lift it, fingers crossed," Rohit, who is currently in the United States, was quoted as saying by the ICC.
The tournament will take place at 10 venues in India starting on October 5.
"I know for a fact that every ground, every venue that we will be travelling to will get massive support. You know, it's the World Cup, so everyone is looking forward to this and the World Cup coming back to India after 12 years…
"...you know 2011 was the last time we played a 50-over World Cup. We played a 20-over World Cup in 2016 but a 50-over World Cup after 12 years in the country, people are quite excited and we can see the buzz already back home. I'll be looking forward to playing in all venues."
1/10:Top-5: Most runs by Asian players in the ODI World Cup
2/10:Sachin Tendulkar (India): 2278 runs
<p>The legendary Indian cricketer left an indelible mark on the World Cup stage. Over the course of his six appearances in the tournament from 1992 to 2011, Tendulkar showcased his exceptional batting prowess and became an icon of the sport. <br /></p>
3/10:Sachin Tendulkar (India): 2278 runs
<p>The only Indian on this list, Sachin scored 2278 runs in 45 WC matches at an average of 56.95 with 6-centuries to his name and a highest score of 152.<br /></p>
4/10:Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): 1532 runs
<p>One of the all-time greats, Kumar Sangakkara will always be remembered as a fine cricketer and a gentleman. The stylish left-handed batter was known for his elegance and consistency.<br /></p>Getty Images
5/10:Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): 1532 runs
<p>'Sanga' scored 1532 runs in 37 WC matches overall at an average of 56.74 with 5 hundreds. In the 2015 World Cup he became the first batter in WC history to score 4 consecutive tons. <br /></p>Getty Images
6/10:Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka): 1165 runs
<p>Sanath Jayasuriya was known for revolutionizing the role of the opening batter with his aggressive style of play. <br /></p>Getty Images
7/10:Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka): 1165 runs
<p>He participated in five Cricket World Cups (1992-2007) and scored 1,165 runs in 38 matches at an average of 34.26, including 3 centuries. <br /></p>
8/10:Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh): 1146 runs
<p>The only Bangladeshi batter on this list, Shakib Al Hasan is one of the greatest all-rounders in the limited overs format. In the previous edition of the ODI WC, Shakib amassed 606 runs in 8 matches at an average of 86.57.<br /></p>Getty Images
9/10:Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh): 1146 runs
<p>In the WC overall, Shakib scored 1146 runs in 29 matches at an average of 45.84 with a couple of centuries.<br /><br /><br /></p>Getty Images
10/10:Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka): 1112 runs
<p>One of the most flamboyant batters of all-time, Dilshan was one of the pillars of Sri Lankan cricket during his playing days. Dilshan was also the leading run-getter in the 2011 ODI World Cup.<br /></p>Getty ImagesTalking about his memories of the World Cup, Rohit said: "In 2003, India played really well up until the finals. You know, Sachin Tendulkar was amazing with the bat, scored so many runs.
"And then comes the 2007 World Cup where we didn't have a great time, didn't even qualify after the league stage, so that was quite unfortunate.
"2011 was a memorable one for all of us, I remember watching it from home, every single match, every single ball which was being bowled and that was being played.
"There were two kinds of emotions, one was obviously I was not a part of it, so I was a little disappointed. I decided I was not going to watch the World Cup, but again, the second memory I remember was that India was playing so well, quarter-finals onwards."
1/10:Top-5: Most centuries by Asian batters in the ODI World Cup
2/10:Rohit Sharma (India): 6 Centuries
<p>The current Indian skipper holds the joint record of most centuries in World Cup history overall (all countries). The prolific opening batter was in exceptional form in the 2019 edition.<br /></p>Getty Images
3/10:Rohit Sharma (India): 6 Centuries
<p>Rohit has scored 6 centuries in World Cup matches out of which 5 alone were smashed in the 2019 World Cup. With this Rohit also broke Kumar Sangakkara's record for most centuries in a single edition of the World Cup.<br /></p>Getty Images
4/10:Sachin Tendulkar (India): 6 Centuries
<p>Tendulkar, regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, is on top of this pile as joint record holder for the most centuries by an Asian batter in ODI World Cup history.<br /></p>
5/10:Sachin Tendulkar (India): 6 Centuries
<p>Tendulkar scored six centuries in the tournament overall. In the 2011 WC edition, Tendulkar became the first player ever to score 6 WC hundreds. A record that was subsequently matched by Rohit.<br /><br /><br /></p>
6/10:Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): 5 Centuries
<p>One of the most stylish batters of all-time, Kumar Sangakkara is listed 3rd on this elite list. Sangakkara will be remembered as one of the most elegant left-handed batters of all time.<br /></p>Getty Images
7/10:Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): 5 Centuries
<p>In 37 WC matches, Sanga has a tally of 5 centuries and is third on the overall list (all countries). He also holds the record of most consecutive hundreds in a single edition of the ODI World Cup and in ODIs overall with 4 in the 2015 edition.<br /></p>Getty Images
8/10:Sourav Ganguly: 4 Centuries
<p>The former Indian captain was one of the key batters for India in World Cup tournaments. He scored four centuries in 21 World Cup matches overall.<br /></p>
9/10:Sourav Ganguly: 4 Centuries
<p>Ganguly’s highest score of 183 against Sri Lanka in the 1999 edition remains the highest score by an Indian in World Cups.<br /><br /><br /></p>
10/10:Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka): 4 centuries
<p>Dilshan was one of the most flamboyant batters in world cricket and played an important role in his team’s batting line-up. <br /></p>Getty ImagesRohit had excelled in the 2019 edition in which he amassed five hundreds.
"And 2015 and 2019, I was a part of it, which felt really good to play the World Cup. We went to the semi-finals, tried everything we could to go to the finals and play well in the finals, but again, a very unfortunate incident where we couldn't go through to the finals," he said.
"But hopefully, you know, we are back home again, so hopefully we can turn things around and it's still a long way to go. And you know you can't win the World Cup in one or two days. You got to play well for an entire month, month and a half, and be consistent," said Rohit.
1/10:Top-5: Most fifty-plus scores in World Cup history
2/10:Sachin Tendulkar (India): 21 fifty-plus scores
<p>One of the greatest batters in cricket history, Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most fifties in ODI World Cup history, with 21 such scores.<br /></p>
3/10:Sachin Tendulkar (India): 21 fifty-plus scores
<p>He represented India in six World Cup tournaments from 1992 to 2011. Tendulkar amassed a total of 2,278 runs in 45 matches, including 21 fifty-plus scores ( 6 centuries and 15 half-centuries).<br /><br /><br /></p>
4/10:Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh): 12 fifty-plus scores
<p>The next cricketer on this list is 9 fifties behind Sachin. Bangladesh’s sensational all-rounder, Shakib is 2nd on this list. Shakib represented Bangladesh in four World Cups from 2007 to 2019. <br /></p>Getty Images
5/10:Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh): 12 fifty-plus scores
<p>In 29 matches, he scored a total of 1,146 runs at an average of 45.84. Shakib recorded 12 fifty-plus scores, including 2 centuries and 10 half-centuries.<br /><br /><br /></p>Getty Images
6/10:Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): 12 fifty-plus scores
<p>The former Sri Lankan captain Sangakkara, renowned for his elegant batting style, participated in five World Cups from 2003 to 2015. <br /></p>Getty Images
7/10:Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): 12 fifty-plus scores
<p>Sangakkara scored a total of 1,532 runs in 37 matches, which included 12 fifty-plus scores ( 5 centuries and 7 half-centuries).<br /></p>Getty Images
8/10:Ricky Ponting (Australia): 11 fifties
<p>One of the most successful Australian cricketers is fourth on the list with 11 fifty-plus scores in World Cups. He represented Australia in five World Cups from 1996 to 2011 and scored a total of 1,743 runs.<br /></p>
9/10:Ricky Ponting (Australia): 11 fifties
<p>He was known for his aggressive batting style and played a crucial role in Australia's World Cup victories in 2003 and 2007.<br /></p>
10/10:AB de Villiers (South Africa): 10 fifty-plus scores
<p>The former explosive batter known for his versatility and innovative stroke play, completes the top five in terms of fifty-plus scores in the World Cup. <br /></p>Rohit feels the key to emerge victorious in the showpiece would be to start fresh in every game.
"I know every day is a fresh day. Every day is a fresh start, it's not like Test match cricket where you have the momentum with you and you carry the momentum to the next day.
"One-day cricket, limited overs format is like that, that's where the challenge comes. You've to start fresh every day and you know that's where I was (in 2019)," he said.
(With PTI inputs)of our new show - TOI Gamechangers - with Anju Bobby GeorgeCatch the first episode
