Something's missing in my batting: Rohit

Rohit Sharma has been going through a lean patch for some time now. Regarded as a highly talented youngster, the batsman with amazing wrists and sublime timing talks to TOI about his recent batting failures, the support he has received from the team, and much more. Excerpts...

Luck didn't favour India at the World T20...

From the team's point of view, obviously it wasn't a good tournament because we failed to make it to the semifinals. Yes, we were not so lucky, and I'm saying this because we just had one bad game (against Australia).

And personally?

Personally, it was satisfying because whenever I got the opportunity, I went out there and tried to give my best. But I don't think that is important because eventually the team lost.

You seem to have learnt the art of spacing a Twenty20 innings...

Yes, I enjoy my stints in Twenty20. I sincerely hope I can adapt this to one-day cricket too, and do what I manage to do in T20. I have succeeded in this format regardless of conditions, batting order and any other factors. I hope it rubs off on other formats too. I have realized that something is missing when I am playing ODIs, but I don't what. I am trying to figure out what is this missing link.

Is it about your approach towards the longer format? Maybe, you need more patience, time and energy to sustain in the longer formats...

I've really not thought about it. I go with the same approach in all formats. There are aspects to my batting that don't necessarily have to change just because I'm playing a different format . That's why I said, I really need to figure out what it is.

Are you worried with your ODI showing? It hasn't been that good...

To be honest, I'm not worried. In fact, I'm reasonably happy. Let me explain: I agree the stats are poor, but stats never tell you the exact scenario of the match and the situations in which I have gone in to bat. I've opened the batting, batted at numbers 3, 4, 7... I have batted wherever I have been asked to. I am not giving any excuses here and since I'm supposed to be a professional, I'm anyway not allowed such excuses. The tours of Australia and Sri Lanka were disappointing and I also agree I struggled there. As frustrating as it has been for everybody, it's much more frustrating for me.

A lot has been said about 'Rohit bahut bada talent hai'. Does it add any kind of pressure?

Yes, even I keep hearing it all the time. 'Itna bada talent hai...' But 'talent hai' doesn't mean every time you step out you'll score a hundred or a fifty. I try to stay away from people who say such things and keep repeating it all the time. People are impatient. They want things to happen overnight and have no idea of the circumstances and situations that can surround an individual at times. I am only learning from these things.

Does it hurt?

Of course it hurts. If I was an opener, it would've given me time to go out there and figure things out. I don't want to say I'm a top-order batsman or I'd specifically like to be one. I will bat wherever I am asked to. Yuvraj has been a classic example. He used to bat at No. 6, No. 7 when he first came into the Indian team. Gradually he started batting up the order and runs started coming. Some day I too will learn to deal with it and work my way.

You say too much criticism and scrutiny causes hurt. In turn, how does that add to the pressure?

The only pressure I feel is how I can contribute to help my team win the match. Of course there is always the pressure to score, but then doesn't it eventually help your team win? Frankly, I don't let these things affect me.

Changes in the batting order can be a problem?

Honestly, I don't let such things affect me mentally. I don't want to think about all that. I have to bat wherever I am asked to, and as the situation demands.

Despite the poor scores, the captain and coach have reposed faith in you...

I have got tremendous support from my teammates and captain. I must have done something right in the past for which I am getting this kind of support. Nobody will back you just like that. And believe me, I'm putting in a lot of effort to repay that faith.

You present a very casual outlook on the field...

Casual? I don't know. That's how I am and I don't want to change for anybody. If someone is saying I am casual let them say it. I don't want to go around showing false emotions on the ground. I'd rather keep it to myself. When things don't go your way, people say such things. When you score runs, people don't say anything.

Do you watch videos of your batting to analyze what went wrong?

Of course I like to watch myself bat. After every innings, match, series, I do watch my own videos whenever I get the time. We have the huge advantage of technology and a great team in place so I make it a point to discuss things... with the team analyst (Dhananjay), the coach and other senior players.

So, you believe it can lead to improvement...

Things never change overnight. You have to keep working on them. Even after a decade people still work on their technique. It is a continuous process and you have to keep working.

Your fitness too has come under scrutiny at times...

Glad you asked me this. People keep talking about my fitness and they don't even follow what I do. Forget that, they don't even know my routine but love to talk endlessly about the state of my health and fitness. Five years ago, if they had said these things, I'd give it to them as I didn't exactly know what fitness was then. But that's not the case today. They don't know what I do, how I go about with my fitness regime, what I do in the gym and so on. These people just need to shut up.

What do you do when you're feeling low?

I have never felt low about myself so far, and why should I? I have age on my side and I know I have the ability to get better with time. Yes, I do feel disappointed when failure happens. But that's how sport is. I believe rather than feeling low, it is better to stay positive all the time. Even when I was a student, I was like this: I never allowed negativity to seep in.

Do you believe in setting goals?

I do and I have a set a few goals, but I'd keep them to myself. Thinking too much about the future somehow never allows you to live the present. In fact, thinking too much only piles on the pressure.

You're a couple of years senior to Virat (Kohli). But he's gone on to another level right now and batting with great maturity and confidence. Some comparison is bound to happen...

I don't believe in any kind of comparison. He is different and so am I. I am very happy he's doing well and hopefully, I'll join him there soon. As for people who compare, I can't help. People need to see the whole scenario when they compare. Virat is a No. 3 batsman. I bat at No. 4, 5, 6... But he's doing well for India and that's what matters.

You seem to revel playing the IPL. Somehow, it brings out the best in you...

Yeah, even I don't know why. But I always work with the same approach. Whether it's the MI jersey or Team India jersey, it's always the same for me.

Who asked you to change your jersey number (45 to 77)?

My mom asked me to change the number to 77 and I just did it.

Blast From Past

Three innings that Rohit can take inspiration from...

55 Not Out vs England at the 2012 WORLD T20

It was an inconsequential game for India but consequential for Sharma, who was running very poor form. He walked in to bat at number four and took the England attack by the tail, striking at a rate of 166.66 and finishing at 55 from 33 balls. An innings well paced, it helped India set up a competitive total.

66 vs Australia at Sydney in the 2008 CB series

Chasing 239 for victory, India were on mark with Tendulkar at the crease. However, Tendulkar needed a partner at the other end to steady the chase and he found him in Sharma who made a composed 66 off 87 balls. The knock came against an attack comprising Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Mitchell Johnson, James Hopes and Brad Hogg.

109 for Mumbai Indians against KKR in IPL 5

Kolkata Knight Riders were riding high on confidence when Sharma gatecrashed their party and sent them into hiding in their own backyard, the Eden Gardens. The batsman entertained with his 60-ball 109, studded with 17 boundaries and five sixes. It was Sharma's maiden IPL century.

The lean patch has carried on for too long

Compared to Sharma, his younger teammate Virat Kohli - who seems to be batting in another zone right now - has five centuries to show in the last 10 one-dayers and four fifties in the last 10 T20 internationals. Sharma says he's happy for Virat.

The Twenty20 version hasn't been so bad for the batsman and he has made good use of whatever opportunity has come his way. Sharma says he's still trying to figure how he can adapt in ODIs what he's been doing so well in Twenty20.

Sharma has played 41 one-dayers without a century to show for. His last two tons came against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, May 2010. To worsen things, barring the 68 against Pakistan in Dhaka early this year, his ODI scores in the last 14 innings have been extremely poor with the highest being 33.

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