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Underpressure Rohit wants to deliver in front of home fans

March 31, 2016 12:35 IST

IMAGE: India's Rohit Sharma during a training session. Photograph: BCC.

Indian opener Rohit Sharma, who is yet to make a noteworthy contribution in the ongoing World T20, wants to use the home-ground advantage in his stride and deliver in front of his home fans against the West Indies to take his side into the final.

"Playing here in front of my home crowd will be excellent, we're looking forward to it," said the Mumbai and Indian batsman.

"We've played good cricket overall. I'm sure it's just going to be what people of India will be expecting us to do. 

"People follow the sport like crazy. They want their team to win, they want to come out and support no matter what, which is good to see. All the venues we've played at we've got tremendous support. It's our responsibility to [win] for them and make them happy," Rohit said.

India’s rivals the West Indies, meanwhile, were unbeaten till its final group game when it came up against a spirited Afghanistan.

Rohit, who has 45 runs from four games in the tournament so far, is fully aware of the kind of threat Darren Sammy’s men posses with T20 specialists power-hitters and all-rounders in their rank.

He reminded of Chris Gayle’s blazing century to chase England's 182 for 6 at the same venue in its opener as an example of just how dangerous the 2012 champions can be. 

"West Indies are [some] of the most dangerous competitors. The way they play cricket is fearless. You can't expect what's coming. You've got to be ready in all departments," he said.

"We know their strengths, but they have weaknesses as well, we'll try to exploit that."