“They are a very different team from what they were in Adelaide. They look to take it on right from the word go and look to play the Powerplay very hard, led by their captain Rohit Sharma.During that semis, we had put them in and it seemed they were not exactly sure what the right score would be. It can be different this time and they will probably look to bat us out of the game,” Mott said ahead of an England practice session on Wednesday.
The suggestion that India tend to choke in the knockouts is also something that the England coach doesn’t endorse. “The fact that they made the semis and the final so many times shows how good a team they are. With time, people will know what a great Indian team this was,” Mott said, showing a lot of respect for the Indian team.
England had a bit of a rocky start in this World Cup when their first game was washed out against Scotland. Then, they lost badly to Australia. Since then, though, every game has been a must-win for the team and they have risen to the task. But Mott suggests that will count for nothing at the business end of the tournament.
“I think we went through the Super 8s with a mixture of relief and happiness. Our tournament starts now. The general feeling in the team is that the best cricket is in front of us. The Indian team is a superb unit and it will be a great occasion to take them on,” Mott said.
The England coach feels the form of their openers should stand them in good stead in this game. “Jos (Buttler) has been inspirational with his game while Phil Salt has broken through and they are a super strength in this team. We are just excited what they bring to the table,” he said.
