After becoming the first batsman in history to record two ODI double-centuries, and breaking the record for the highest score in the format, Rohit Sharma said he felt it was important “to think” about an innings while compiling it. And that’s what he did at Eden Gardens, he said.
“It’s important to look at the team score, because that’s how you will build your innings, you need to know where your team stands,” Rohit said, after his 264 off 173 balls powered India to 404 for 5 against Sri Lanka. “It’s important to know what the score is and how many overs have been bowled, and how many overs of each bowler are left. I think it’s very important to think when you’re batting, and that’s what I did.”
Rohit was playing his first match for India in two and a half months, having been sidelined by a finger injury and a shoulder strain. He had shown signs of hitting the top form straightaway in his return to competitive cricket – thewarm-up game in Mumbai against the Sri Lankans before this series – when he scored 142 off 111 balls. After that break, Rohit joked, he was relieved to get time in the middle. “After a few months’ break, so I’m not really tired, I was ready to bat another 50 overs,” he said, adding that the pitch made it necessary for him to not throw away his start.
“But yeah, jokes apart, I was determined and dedicated to getting a big one. Once I got to fifty, I knew that I had to convert, because it was a good batting wicket. The scores here, even 300-350, are easily chaseable. We wanted to get a big score and that made me stay there as long as possible.”