The IPL auction is over, it’s time now to think only about India and the blue jersey. That’s the message the Indian team management has sent across to the players who have earned lucrative contracts.

“It was understood that the guys will go through some emotions, some ups and downs. Yesterday (Monday) we had a meeting with everyone and asked them to focus on the colour ‘blue’ for the next two weeks, which is very, very important,” captain Rohit Sharma said on the eve of India’s first T20I versus the West Indies at Eden Gardens.

“Whatever has happened has happened and whichever team they are going to play, that’s for the future. Right now, the focus for the next two weeks is to play for India,” the skipper added.

Rohit reminded the players that the IPL is played for only two months, while they play for the country for the rest of the year. So the team’s focus should be on plugging the holes and forming an ideal combination with an eye on the T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia later in the year.

“Yes, guys were nervous and showing their emotions all around during the (two-day) auction (in Bangalore). But that’s done and dusted, and no point talking about it now. We have important games coming up and we just need to focus on them,” Rohit emphasised.

Core group for Cup

The three T20Is will also be playing a part in helping the team management figure out which players could be considered for selection in the T20 World Cup, Rohit stated.

“The idea is to identify the players who are going to play the World Cup and give them sufficient game time. We have a packed schedule and injuries are bound to happen. So it’s important that we give the guys who are going to fill those gaps some security in the form of enough game time.

“In that respect, we use this and the following series (versus Sri Lanka) to have a look at the players who have good potential,” Rohit said.