Published: Jul 08, 2016, 03:47 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 08, 2016, 03:47 PM (IST)
Indian batsman Rohit Sharma says that he is looking forward to creating history in the West Indies. Rohit has many astonishing records in One-Day Internationals (ODI), including the mammoth 264 against Sri Lanka. But he is yet to cement his place in the Test side as a few inconsistent performances have put his place in the side in jeopardy. Rohit before leaving with Team India for the West Indies, was part of the Express Adda program, where he spoke about the upcoming Test series against West Indies among many other things. Rohit spoke in length about day-night Tests, the importance of Indian Premier League (IPL) in Indian cricket and more. Full Cricket Scorecard: India vs West Indies 2016, 1st Test at Antigua
Rohit has always been applauded for making batting look very easy. His elegant stroke play has won millions of hearts all over. “People make it sound really easy when they say the shots I play look elegant and easy on the eye. I started my career at 11 as an off-spinner. I was never a batsman until I turned 13-14. A lot of hard work went in to make me a batsman. My coach Dinesh Lad helped me a lot in my school days when I was a bowler. He promoted me to open the innings and that was the game in which I scored a hundred,” said Rohit according to indianexpress.com.
“From there on, I started concentrating a lot on my batting. It’s been a long journey and a lot of hard work. There are new challenges that keep arising and I am focusing on going to West Indies and creating some history there as well,” he added.
Rohit says he saw the first-ever day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand last year and hopes that people flock the stadiums in India too, if such a match were ever to be played. It’s still early days. I happened to watch the Test between Australia and New Zealand [the first ever day-night Test]. It was very entertaining for people who were watching. But what I saw as a player was that the pink ball was challenging for both the batsman and the bowler. I think those guys handled it really well.” READ: Rohit Sharma: Time to make or break in Test cricket?
“I don’t know how it’s going to be in India. I hope there will be a lot of people there to watch as well. We want Test cricket to be as interesting as it was 20-25 years ago and I just hope this idea of pink ball will be a massive success. We are there as players to do whatever is required,” said the Mumbai batsman.
Rohit has been an excellent captain for Mumbai Indians (MI), leading them to a couple of titles. He believes captaincy is a tough job. “It’s a tough job, believe me, to go and tell someone that he’s not playing this game. I don’t know how these captains do these things. MS [Dhoni] has been doing it for such a long period of time. All these guys are professional cricketers. They understand where I am coming from and the combinations and conditions that come into play when you are picking your final 11.”
“We go and speak to individuals as much as possible so that they understand what the captain and coach are thinking. Pragyan Ojha is a very close friend. So I took a moment and said, “Pragyan, sorry yaar, you are not playing this game.” These things are understood and players do understand that it’s in the team’s best interest,” said Rohit. READ: Rohit Sharma upset over Ravi Shastri leaving Team India
IPL has changed many cricketers’ lives. There have been a few, who gave gained attention of the national selectors by performing well in the IPL. Rohit believes that it gives youngsters exposure to rub shoulders with a few international players. He says, “I think IPL has helped all of us massively. For the younger players it’s about rubbing shoulders with international stars. It makes them fearless. I still remember in 2008, Yusuf Pathan had a brilliant IPL season and he got an opportunity to play for India.”
“Having these big names joking around and sharing the dressing room with you makes you feel like you’re one of them. And I’m sure through the IPL in the next few years, you will see many young faces coming up and playing fearless cricket.”
To get a place in the playing XI of the Indian Test team is very difficult with so many talented players in the squad. Rohit admits to that fact and believes the only way he can cement his place is by scoring lots and lots of runs. “I’ve got nobody to blame but myself. I don’t have any enemies. At the moment, there is a lot of competition for that spot. I need to work hard and score as many runs as possible. I know that a lot of the guys competing for that spot have scored runs. It’s not going to be easy. Nothing has come to me easily. I have to work my way towards it. And I’m prepared for it.” READ: Rohit Sharma: Virat Kohli has lot of belief in himself and his abilities
“I’ve always said Test cricket is my priority. I was never an opener [in ODIs]. MS Dhoni, one fine night, spoke to me and said you have to open the next day. And I said, “Why not. I’ll try.” And I did pretty okay. Even now in Test cricket, it’s the same situation. The first four years, I never knew where I was going to bat. I’m sure in the next few series things will change, I hope.”
India take on West Indies in a four-match Test series, beginning on July 21 at Antigua.
