More clear about my role now: Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma may still be viewed a rookie, but next week he will figure in his second World T20. He talks to MiD DAY about his journey

More clear about my role now: Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma may still be viewed a rookie, but next week he will figure in his second World T20. He talks to MiD DAY about his journey

Even before Rohit Sharma completes two years of international cricket, he would have figured in two T20 World Cups. Cricket indeed has a funny way of making even a junior player look experienced.

Adding to his confidence before he left for London yesterday with his mates in the India World T20 squad was the fact that Sharma was part of the champion Indian Premier League team Deccan Chargers.

Sharma has played a key role in most of India's recent achievements in the limited overs formats, including the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa, 2007 and the tri-series in Australia last year.

Adjudged the most promising youngster in the second edition of the Indian Premier League for his super show for Deccan Chargers recently, Sharma felt that a change in approach has been the key to his evolution as a cricketer.

"I think my approach has changed a lot in the last two years," Sharma told MiD DAY yesterday minutes before joining his teammates on the bus to the airport.

"I have learnt how to bat under difficult situations and to read the game. When I went to England two years ago, I was very raw. And now being with the Indian team for a couple of years, playing the IPL and all these tournaments.

"I think I have matured as a cricketer. Earlier, I didn't really know what I was supposed to do as I was very young. But now, the situation is different. Being with the Indian team has helped me know more about the game how to play under difficult conditions and situations. Being with senior cricketers, my game has changed a lot now."

Sharma, who was the Man of the Match in India's crucial Super Eight victory against South Africa that helped them qualify for the semi-finals in the inaugural World Twenty20, executed the role of a 'finisher' to near-perfection in the IPL.

But that doesn't mean he would like to be typecast in that role. "Gilly (Deccan Chargers' skipper Adam Gilchrist) told me to handle the domestic cricketers and be the finisher in the IPL," Sharma said.

Ready for any role
"If the Indian team wants to me to play that role, I will do it. But the key is to fit into the role that the team expects me to perform in. And I am confident I will live up to the team's expectations."

With the Men in Blue on a mission to defend their world champions' crown, Sharma was confident the team would cope with pressure. I don't think things have changed. Everyone in the team is in good form.

"Everyone's doing well, and this is more or less the same team that has done well wherever we've played in the last couple of years.

"The combination is just right. If we continue playing to potential, I don't think there should be any problem (in India defending the title)," he signed off.