Focus on the color 'Blue' after the IPL 2022 super auction highs, urges captain Rohit Sharma

Only a few days after the frantic Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 blockbuster auction, Team Indian skipper Rohit Sharma faces the difficult task of refocusing his team on the present series against the West Indies. Rohit Sharma will captain the team in the three-match T20 series against the West Indies, which begins on Wednesday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata (February 16).

The T20 and ODI captain stated that the team's focus is now on 'colour blue' until the IPL 2022 starts next month.

"The last time my name was in the auction was some 12 years back, so I don't remember what my emotions were like back then. It is natural for the guys to go through ups and downs over the course of the two days of the IPL 2022 auction. However, good thing is that we had a team meeting on Monday (February 14) and now the focus is no colour 'blue'. The next two weeks all of us will concentrate on giving our best for India. All the guys are professionals and they understood this," Rohit Sharma told the media during a virtual conference on Tuesday (February 15).

Rohit has just returned from a 3-0 ODI whitewash of the Windies, India's first-ever win against the Caribbean side. They'll try to maintain that momentum in the T20 series as well.

The skipper, who is heading the side full-time in T20 cricket for the second time after a series against New Zealand last year, claimed that the IPL is not being considered by Team India at the moment.

"There is no consideration of IPL right now for the team. The players might be turning out in different positions for their respective IPL franchises, but the point is to identify right players for the right positions in the lead up to the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. IPL we'll take care later. The guys have been spoken to and they have clarity on what roles they are expected to play," Rohit said.

The T20 series against the West Indies, followed by one against Sri Lanka, will be significant for India in the run-up to the T20 World Cup 2022, which will be held in Australia later this year in October.

"The idea is to identify players who are going to play in the T20 World Cup. We'll also focus on getting back-up ready. We have a packed schedule and injuries can happen. We have to use these two series fully," Rohit added.