Rohit Sharma

Mumbai's next big thing Rohit Sharma on scoring a hundred in each innings of Ranji final

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Rohit Sharma Interview - 'Hyderabad my lucky ground'

Mumbai: Rohit Sharma, on day four became only the sixth batsman to score a hundred in each innings of a Ranji Trophy final. With his 'Lazarus-like' first innings he brought Mumbai back to life and right back into the game, when they were reeling at 55 for 4 seemed down and out.

"It's an amazing feeling, and I guess I'm only the 6th batsmen to do so. Getting the hundreds was very important. And I need to carry this form forward and play the game," said Sharma speaking to former India opener VB Chandrashekhar.

Sharma's first innings hundred was decidedly different from his second. In the first innings, where he scored 141, he led a charmed life, dropped on a number of occasions, and played what seemed to be a very restrained game. In the second innings, he was Rohit Sharma once more, and scored 108. 

"In the second innings I was not thinking much about the situation and what the bowlers were going to do. I just went and played my natural game. In the first innings it was exactly the opposite, I had to play a waiting game. You need to play according to the situation and the first innings situation was different from the second which was easy and where we were in a good position."

Sharma also added that Mumbai coach, Praveen Amre was disappointed about the fact that he hadn't been able to get a double century. "He was upset when I got out for 141. I was also quite unhappy with the way I got out. It doesn't matter now. I got a hundred and put the team on the right track. I am very happy with the way things are right now."

Sharma has been compared to Gundappa Vishwanath and Sir Vivian Richards. But his real idol, he maintains is Sachin Tendulkar. "He has been my idol since I began playing cricket and I always look up to him," Sharma said.

For most people, playing with their idol is something they never achieve in life for Rohit Sharma, it seem to be a daily occurrence. "It is definitely great having him at the other end when batting. We were not together for long at the crease, but it happens. Whatever time we spent together was great."

Hyderabad is turning out to be a happy hunting ground for the Mumbai middle-order batsman. "Everyone has been saying that Hyderabad is my lucky ground. Every game I've played here I've done well. Even in the Indian Premier League (IPL), when I played here, I did well."

Sharma, managed two hundred in both innings in this final, unlike in the quarter-finals where he missed out on a hundred, dismissed on 98. "In the quarter-finals I was stuck on 98 for four overs. This time I just wanted to get my century as fast as possible," he said. Sharma when on 96, hit a four to reach his century.

Sharma is turning into a very versatile cricketer, playing in all forms of the game- first-class cricket, one-dayers and T20. "It's all up to you. You have to be strong mentally, and adapt to the situation and adapt to the game. Play your natural game. In India, all three formats are played regularly and you have to adjust accordingly and be ready for all three formats," were Sharma's words of wisdom.

With the form Sharma is in at the moment, expect him to be a regular feature in the national side.