Kolkata: Right-handed batsman Rohit Sharma feels honoured after being given the responsibilities of the vice-captain of India’s ODI team for the series against Sri Lanka.
The Mumbai batsman, didn’t get a chance to feature in the Test series but is looking forward to the ODI series to make a mark.
“Firstly, it is a huge honour to be appointed as the vice-captain. Ten years ago, I was only thinking of playing for India. Being the vice-captain now feels really, really good,” said Rohit on Wednesday.
He added, “It’s a kind of honour that whenever the opportunity comes, the first one-dayer when we come on August 20, there will be some sort of role that I will need to play and I am looking forward to it. I am not thinking too much about it. I just want to enjoy the moment as of now.”
However Sharma isn’t new to this leadership role. As a matter of fact, he has led Mumbai Indians to three IPL titles, but he realises that it would be a different challenge altogether.
“It’s a different ballgame completely. IPL and when you come and play international cricket, it is completely different. But again, the excitement and the energy level is the same,” he said.
He further added that he is ready to play the ,’behind-the-scene’ role for his team in the ODI’s.
Said Rohit, “So yes, nothing changes too much. I am the vice-captain here, there I was the captain, and so I was more in front. Here I have to play a little behind-the-scene role. But yes, I will be very excited to step on to the field as the vice- captain.”
Reflecting on his international career which has spanned for ten years, the 30-year old says that it’s been a fast journey for him. Although he hasn’t been able to make a place for himself in the Test team, the right-hander is the proud owner of a lot of ODI records and he is only looking forward to doing well for the team in the limited overs’ series beginning on the 20th of August.
He said, “Firstly, it’s gone very fast, those ten years. Yes, there has been ups and downs but that’s how it is for any sportsman, and that’s how it should be. You get to learn a lot more from ups and downs.
“I always wait for this opportunity, whenever I get this opportunity, to play for India, whichever format it is. Before those ten years, I never thought I would play for India.
“I was just enjoying my cricket, playing for my school, for Mumbai and yes, once I realised that cricket is getting tougher and tougher. When I started playing Ranji Trophy, I realised that I have that goal where I can look at. And once I was picked up for Indian team, there was no looking back from then.”
Although he has spent a decade in the international cricket, the prolific right-hander learns new things everyday.
“Today I got to learn playing those sweeps and reverse sweeps when someone like Lasith Malinga comes and bowls to you. So everyday you enter the field you go on to learn something new.
“There were so many things in ten years I have learnt. Especially in limited overs format initially when I came in, I sort of used to play too many shots at once and now I have realised that it cannot be going out and just slogging every time.
“You got to understand the situation, the conditions and that’s what I have learnt over these years with so many coaches around. I will still continue to learn and that is the greatest part of this sport, that you learn everyday and there is something to look forward to every day,” said Rohit.
He however conceded that it’s hasn’t been a good feeling having had to sit out of the Test team but he understands that it all depends on the team dynamics and who the coach and captain selects in the playing XI.
“Nobody likes to sit out. But again, it all depends on the team dynamics, what the captain and the coach wants to play. And you got to accept the fact and move forward,” he said.
“I kept working on my skills, my ability, wherever I need to work on and see where I can improve as a cricketer. You cannot sit here and waste time.
“All I was trying to do these past 3-4 weeks was just to improve my skills, see where things are going wrong and try and strengthen the strengths I have,’ he added.
Three years ago, it was the Rohit Sharma show at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata where he destroyed the Sri Lankans and went after their bowling hitting 33 fours and nine huge sizes to register a personal score of 264 runs, a record in ODI cricket.
Sharma took part in the optional net session on Wednesday along with KL Rahul and Axar Patel.
He said, “I have had some good times against Sri Lanka and at the same time I have had some terrible times against Sri Lanka in 2012, which I clearly remember and it is something that happens in sport.
“I have played these guys so many times now, we have come to Sri Lanka many times and we understand the conditions well. You know the kind of cricket you want to play, and the opposition, and the kind of bowling dynamics they have. We played these guys a lot many times and that will help.
“I am not thinking about any particular thing, but yes it will always be at the back of my mind that I scored some runs against these guys.”
India dominated the entire Test series as they registered a 3-0 whitewash against the hosts. But Sharma realises that things wouldn’t be easy in the 50-over format and one must also not forget the fact that this Sri Lankan side handed India a shocking defeat earlier in the Champions Trophy this year.
He said, “I have no idea about their squad for this ODI series but what they had in the Champions Trophy was a very good side. They beat us quite comfortably. Chasing 320 was never going to be easy especially in those conditions but they came out and batted fearlessly and took the game away from us.
“So you know in one-day cricket they are a very good team. We have just got to do what we have been doing for the past few years. We got to stick to our strengths and play good cricket,” he further added.