Rohit Sharma ‘unperturbed’ about Sachin Tendulkar’s record: The Indian vice-captain has put the Indian team over personal milestones.
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Despite becoming the first batsman to do so, India vice-captain Rohit Sharma doesn’t consider scoring five centuries in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 as the biggest moment of his career. Speaking during the post-match presentation ceremony last night, Sharma said that aforementioned happening is subjective to India winning the World Cup.
“If we win the World Cup then probably I would [rate this as the biggest moment in career]. If not, then I can’t, because eventually winning the cup — winning the game is important, no matter how many runs you score or how many wickets you take.
“You have to wait four years for this. Eventually the job for us is to go and win the finals, the semifinals before that, yes. But as long as that is not accomplished, no matter how many runs you score in the tournament or how many hundreds you get, you won’t feel satisfied,” Sharma was quoted as saying.
On not being able to score daddy hundred
Out of his 22 ODI centuries before this World Cup, Sharma had scored 125 or more runs on 14 occasions. Out of his five centuries in the tourney, Sharma has crossed the 125-run mark on just a solo instance. Known for scoring daddy hundreds, the 32-year old cricketer was asked if getting out right after scoring a century in this World Cup is a concern for him.
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“No. Not at all. Personally, I was disappointed because after a hundred, I’ve said it many times, you can’t — bowlers can really get you out; it’s your mistake that can cost you your wicket at that point.
“I was disappointed with that, the three hundred, the last three hundreds I got, I couldn’t go on to bat as deep as I could. But I would take that hundred. And the only reason I say that is because eventually we won the game, except one against England which I think we came pretty close as well,” Sharma said.
On a chat with Yuvraj Singh during IPL 2019
Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has constantly backed Sharma to win the ‘Man of the Tournament’ trophy in this World Cup. Being asked about the same, Sharma disclosed having a chat with Yuvraj during the Indian Premier League.
“I was not getting big runs [in IPL 2019]. So we always talk about the game, about life. I mean, he’s like a big brother to me. So he said when it matters you will do it. I guess probably he was talking about the World Cup.
Different pitches, different oppositions, plus the world cup stage…5 hundreds!… with a possible 2 games to go is just ridiculously brilliant!#RohitSharma
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) July 6, 2019
“He was in a similar phase in 2011 before the World Cup, was not getting enough, like, not getting enough runs. So what he told me was to just be in good space. And that’s what he did, that’s why he was so successful at that World Cup, Sharma added.
Rohit Sharma ‘unperturbed’ about Sachin Tendulkar’s record
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. Sharma needs only 27 more runs to go past Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most runs (673) in a single World Cup.
“I’m not thinking about milestones. I know if I play well all these things will happen along the way. My job is to keep my head straight, keep playing and get the team to the finishing line.
“People around me are talking about hundreds, but that’s the challenge of a sportsman: try to keep your head straight and focus on the job at hand,” Sharma mentioned.
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