Rohit Sharma reveals success mantra: India’s vice-captain explained reasons behind his unbelievable run in 2019 World Cup.
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India vice-captain and opening batsman Rohit Sharma has become the first batsman to score five centuries in a World Cup. In what has become a daily affair for the 32-year old cricketer, his latest century against Sri Lanka saw him surpassing several greats of the game.
Having scored 647 runs in seven matches at an average of 92.42 and a strike rate of 98.77 including five centuries and a half-century, Sharma is now the highest run-scorer in this World Cup. Speaking about scoring fifth century in the tourney, Sharma quashed thoughts of milestones running through his mind.
“Like I have been talking about, going out there and do my job. Not thinking about all these kind of milestones. I know if I play well all these things will happen along the way. My job is to keep my head straight and get my team to the finishing line,” Sharma was quoted as saying during the post-match presentation ceremony.
Rohit Sharma reveals success mantra
Laying emphasis on his shot selection, Sharma talked about calculating and pacing his innings especially in run chases. The right-hand batsman was further vocal about his attempt of forgetting past achievements and treating every match like his first one.
“The shot selection becomes important once you are am in. I have to keep telling myself on what sort of shots I can play on that pitch and what sort of bowlers are bowling to me. I try and calculate how I want to go forward based on that. It has paid dividends so far. There has to be some discipline as well in your batting and I have learned that from my past.
“What has happened has happened, every day is a new day in cricket. I want to start every day as a fresh day. I come out thinking I have not played any ODIs or scored any hundreds in the tournament. That is the mindset I want to get in and I keep telling myself that,” Sharma said.
“Malinga has been a champion bowler”
During his third consecutive century, Sharma particularly targeted veteran Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga. Having shared the dressing room with him for many years at Mumbai Indians, Sharma hailed Malinga as a “champions bowler”.
“He [Lasith Malinga] has been a champion bowler for Sri Lanka and then for Mumbai Indians. He has shown it over the years how the teams rely on him. I have seen him in close quarters and the cricket world will miss him. As a team we are not thinking about that. We have had a great victory today and we want to celebrate that,” Sharma added.
Having defeated Sri Lanka and with Australia struggling in a 326-run chase against South Africa, India have a fair chance of ending the league stage as the table-toppers and playing New Zealand in the semi-finals. Being asked about the same, Sharma mentioned that the players are ready to face any opposition in the semi-finals.
“As a team we are not thinking about that [AUS-SA game]. We have had a great victory today and we want to celebrate that rather than thinking about what is going on there. Whatever opposition comes our way we will put up a show,” Sharma concluded.
