At the end of the fourth day of the SSC Test, Rohit Sharma spoke about his half-century in the 2nd innings.
On the Test so far and how it is poised
Talking about challenges we faced as a batting group in this series was totally different when we started playing in Galle. The wicket there was completely different. Then again at the P Sara we played the wicket was different. Coming here again to the SSC, for me, I started batting at three then five. Obviously when you bat at different positions you have to have a different mindset so that’s what happened to me as well. You know although I feel I should have done a bit more with my bat but I will definitely take what I have done. Talking about this game, we stand in a very good position right now. We have given them a target of 386 on a wicket like this which has something for the bowler throughout the day whether its spinner or the fast bowlers.
Spinners have also been in the game. Sri Lankan spinners they have taken wickets. Most of the wickets have been taken by seamers but the spinners have also taken some wickets. Going into the fifth day obviously it will assist the spinners a little bit but the fast bowlers have done a job for us in this game, they have bowled really well so I expect nothing but to come out and give the same effort as we did in the first innings. Batting on the fifth day and having a target of 380-plus is never easy for any opposition and I guess we will just have to come out tomorrow and have to do what we did in P Sara. In the same situation they were 3 down and we had very similar target there as well so yeah one more job and we are through.
On the criticism from media
I have zero expectations outside. What happens outside is not going to help my cricket. What is going to help my cricket is me working hard, doing what I have been doing in the nets and getting better as a player everyday. And I will stick to it. It has happened to me in the past and you know till you play it will keep happening as a sportsman no one goes through a very clean patch. They will have some sort of up and down in their career. I am no different and I can say things have been up and down, but as long as I am enjoying my cricket nothing can stop me. I am really enjoying with the boys, enjoying the victories we are having and yeah I am a very positive person. I look to think ahead what is ahead of me and going into this Test match again I wanted to make a contribution. Any sort of contribution that can help my team is more than enough for me.
On the pressure of competition
The pressure I feel will be on the management and the captain to decide the XI, not on me. I have to play my game when I get an opportunity. That’s how I look at it.
On where he wants to bat
It’s really important what the captain and team management wants. Personal preference is to bat wherever the team asks me to bat. That’s all I can answer. If you ask anyone, they are not going to say this is my number. Nowhere it’s written in the world that No 4 belongs to this person, No 3 belongs to this person. If you understand well and good. As a batsmen you want to bat as up the order as possible to get more opportunities and face more balls and score big runs. Again, the management felt I bat at No 5 and they came and spoke to me and I was okay to whatever they wanted. The same thing happened to me in ODIs as well. They felt I should open for whatever abilities I have. So I agreed to do whatever they want me to do. I cannot have my own preference, its a team game and you do what the team wants from you.
