Rohit Sharma: 'I am happy I am back on my feet and scoring in Test cricket'

Rohit Sharma was given the first opportunity to return to the serious business of Test cricket, once seamer Mohammed Shami was ruled out for the second Test here because of a niggle. And the stylish right-hander grabbed the chance with both hands.

Published : Nov 27, 2017 16:27 IST , Nagpur

"I am glad that I could put some runs on the board for myself and the team,’’ Rohit Sharma said after scoring an unbeaten 102 in India's innings win against Sri Lanka in the Nagpur Test.
"I am glad that I could put some runs on the board for myself and the team,’’ Rohit Sharma said after scoring an unbeaten 102 in India's innings win against Sri Lanka in the Nagpur Test.
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"I am glad that I could put some runs on the board for myself and the team,’’ Rohit Sharma said after scoring an unbeaten 102 in India's innings win against Sri Lanka in the Nagpur Test.

Rohit Sharma was given the first opportunity to return to the serious business of Test cricket, once seamer Mohammed Shami was ruled out for the second Test here because of a niggle.

And he grabbed the chance with both hands, scoring an unbeaten 102 with his captain watching almost all of it from the non-striker’s end. "Personally for me, it was very important as I was playing Test cricket after thirteen months. I have been waiting for this opportunity and I am glad that I could put some runs on the board for myself and the team.’’

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Quite pleased with what he was able to do, the elegant right-handed batsman said: "I am really happy that it was worth waiting for so long. I clearly remember this was the ground where I got injured and I had to wait for three years to make my Test debut. This ground has now given me something to look back. I am very happy with the way we played.’’

Talking about the mindset of each member in the team he said: "I think that’s (mindset) the most important thing; when you get an opportunity, you have to be more than ready, not just ready to play the game but deliver the goods that your coach, captain and the team expect from you.

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"When I was in Sri Lanka or before that, I never knew I was going to be guaranteed a place in the eleven. You got to keep working at it, try and figure out the way when you are in the middle;  how you are going to be destructive and make an impact on that particular game. So my focus was particularly on those aspects.’’

Giving an insight into the way the team management goes about selecting the team he said: "In the last series against Sri Lanka, we played five bowlers. In Kolkata also, but here we have played six batsmen. So every now and then we will have this combination change; there will be five bowlers playing at times, there will be six batsmen playing at times, you never know.

"It depends completely on the captain and what he wants on that particular day and against a particular opposition.’’

Asked if he regrets missing so many Test matches because of injuries, Sharma explained: "There will always be regrets in life. Even if you score 10,000 runs, you will feel, “Oh, I should have scored 15,000 runs”. Or people will tell you, “You should have scored 15,000 runs, man”.

"So that’s what it is. But I’m glad that I’m back on my feet because when I went through that injury, at one point I was thinking whether I’ll be able to walk or not because the injury was very bad. I’m lucky that I’m on my feet, playing and scoring some runs. What has happened in the past is gone, you can never change it. I can change things looking forward, and looking forward is the Delhi Test match and thereafter the one-day series, Twenty20 and then the South Africa series.’’

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