Mohit Sharma may have made his name with the now suspended Chennai Super Kings, but the right-arm medium-fast bowler remains excited on representing his new outfit — Kings XI Punjab — in the IPl 2016. Before being picked by CSK, Mohit was twice rejected by the Punjab outfit during trails. Their loss was Chennai's gain for the past two years. However, now, with CSK suspended, KXIP did not make the same mistake twice and grabbed him for Rs 6.5 crores. The 27-year-old tells Karthik Raman why he feels at home in his new outfit, and also opens about life without his former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and finally shares the struggles he encountered while he was sidelined with an injury, which ultimately ruled him out of contention from Indian set up for the World T20 squad.
After making a name for yourself with the CSK from 2013-15, how difficult was it to move to a new outfitIJ
It is not that difficult. Before joining CSK, twice I was not picked up in trials by Punjab (KXIP). So now KXIP feels kind of a home team for me.
How much will you miss working under a captain like Mahendra Singh DhoniIJ
I will miss him, but we have to move from it. He gave me a lot of responsibility and has certainly helped me with many things like handling pressure.
You have earned the tag of regularly opening the bowling as well as bowling at the death overs. How difficult it is to deliver under the pressure time and againIJ
When you are a professional, you will get used to all this. It is part of your job. The responsibility and the feeling are always good.
Whenever I get the opportunity I feel good and my confidence slightly improves.
What are your targets for the seasonIJ
I am taking my target match by match. We are all as a team working hard to perform well.
Are you (Kings XI Punjab) confident of matching the Big Boys in IPl this seasonIJ
Yes, we are confident of doing well.
What do you make about working along with your team's new mentor Virender SewhwagIJ
I used to play under him in Haryana, when he (Sehwag) was the captain. Despite me being a bowler, Sehwag was my ideal. He is a very positive person, so it is good working with him.
You picked up a stress injury at a wrong time, in December 2015, which ruled you out for the Australia tour and ultimately cost you a spot from the World T20 squad. How disappointed were you in missing out of themIJ
I was disappointed about missing it. However, it is part of a player's life. But, I kept myself motivated and was raring to go back.
As a result of the injury, will you adjust your game in a different mannerIJ
No I won't be changing my technique and I will follow the same way.