Batsman Rohit Sharma insists that India won’t fixate on bowling short deliveries during Sunday’s World Cup match against Australia at The Oval in London.

Several teams, including India, Australia and the West Indies, have used short deliveries to good effect in the ongoing tournament in the United Kingdom.

‘Short balls for anyone are not easy. Someone who can hook the ball, also finds the short ball difficult,’ said Sharma.

‘But we don’t want to get carried away with the short ball. Most of the batters get out playing the good length ball, so it’s important we bowl that length as well.’

Sharma struck a superb century in triumph over South Africa at the Rose Bowl in Southampton earlier this week. His 122 not out spanned 144 deliveries – and featured 13 fours and a pair of sixes.

‘All cricketers want to start well in the World Cup. You have to respect the conditions, so it was one of the best innings I have played,’ he added.

The right-handed Sharma will become the fourth cricketer to score 2,000 ODI runs against Australia, after India’s Sachin Tendulkar and the West Indies’ Desmond Haynes and Sir Vivian Richards if 20 more are gathered on Sunday.

India and Australia have contested 136 ODIs since the first in 1980. The Aussies have won 77 and the Indians 49, with 10 no-results.

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