"Always wanted to be challenged all the time" - Rohit Sharma opens up on playing opener role
Updated - 11 Feb 2024, 04:17 PM
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Indian skipper Rohit Sharma expressed his preference for being an opener, highlighting his inclination towards facing challenging conditions and situations. Rohit Sharma said that he wants to be consistently challenged, mentioning the uncertainty of the outcome.
Rohit Sharma began his international career as a middle-order batsman before transitioning to a regular opener. The right-handed batsman moved to the top of the order during the Champions Trophy 2013, where he delivered impressive performances as an opener.
Rohit Sharma transitioned to the opening position in Tests due to a lack of opportunities in the middle order. The batter made the most of this opportunity, scoring 176 and 127 in his debut Test as an opener against South Africa in Visakhapatnam in October 2019.
As an opener, the 36-year-old batter has scored 2242 runs in 49 innings at an impressive average of 48.74, including seven centuries and six half-centuries. Overall, he has amassed 3827 runs at an average of 44.50. He smashed three centuries in the No. 6 position.
Don’t Know What The Outcome Will Be – Rohit Sharma
During an event in Mumbai on Friday, Rohit Sharma opened up about his opening role for India, stating he enjoys being tested. Rohit stressed the significance of mastering specific shots to build confidence, which he achieves through rigorous training.
“I like to be put in a place where its slightly difficult conditions and situations. I always wanted to be challenged all the time. The hardest part is to start because you don’t know what the outcome will be,” Rohit said.
“Confidence is something that you can’t take from anywhere it needs to come from within and that’s starts how I train before the game. If I want to play a certain shot in the first over, I have to practice that. I have to master that shot to gain confidence,” he added.
It Is Probably The Hardest Job Of The Leader – Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma emphasized the challenges of leadership, noting the importance of aligning everyone’s mindset. Rohit stated that he aims to empower players by giving them freedom and recognizing their significance to the team’s success.
“It is probably the hardest job of the leader to get everyone to do what you want them to do. Because they come with a different mindset and they want to do what they want to do,” Rohit stated.
“That’s what we try and talk to everyone when they come in because it’s a team game and sport. What I try and do is give the players that freedom and importance….. that they are very important for me,” he further added.
The Mumbai cricketer will be next seen in action when India takes on England in the third Test of the ongoing five-match series at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, starting on February 15. He has scored 90 runs across four innings at a disappointing average of 22.50, with a best score of 39 runs.
Also read: Aakash Chopra slams Rohit Sharma, asks him to put a better Price Tag on his wicket
