Emphasising that opening the batting suits him, Rohit Sharma said he was mentally prepared to make the switch as he scored an unbeaten 115 in his first Test innings as opener and with his assuring knock, India seized the initiative on day one of the series opener against South Africa.
Asked about his mindset in the lead up to the series, India’s limited overs vice-captain said he kept things simple in his head.
“The talk (of him opening in Tests) was going on for a long time. In the West Indies (in August), they told me clearly it is going to happen now. I was prepared for the past two years. At some stage, I was aware that I might have to open so I was ready,” said Rohit after scoring his fourth Test ton.
He was part of the squad for West Indies series but could not final place in the middle order.
“Of course, opening the batting is a different ball game in red ball cricket. Mentally you have to train your mind more than anything else. At the same time, you do need to look into some technical aspects of batting but more than that you have to challenge yourself mentally to play the new ball and take the game forward.
“Those are the things I kept in mind when I went out to bat. There was no confusion about how I wanted to approach the innings.”
In ODIs too, Rohit used to bat in the middle order but he became a white-ball great only with his stupendous success at the top of the order.
“I think it (opening) just suits my game, just wear the pads and bat. It was a waiting game, when I used to bat at five or six. I won’t say it didn’t suit my batting. Your mind is fresh, we know we have to play the new ball. You know the bowlers who will bowl the new ball, these will be the fielders, so the game plan is easier for you.
“At number six, the ball is reversing, field placement is different and you need to keep all those things in mind. That game of wearing the pads and going in to bat suits me more,” said the maker of more than 10,000 runs in limited overs cricket.