Rohit Sharma Wants to Become Allrounder, Practising Seam Bowling
Rohit Sharma says he wants to play the role of third or fourth seamer in the Indian team with the South Africa series just round the corner.
Rohit Sharma is "practising seam bowling" to add to his aggressive brand of batsmanship, which he feels can be a vital asset in the days to come, at a time when India is struggling to churn out quality all-rounders. (India's squad for South Africa series announced; Gurkeerat Singh earns maiden call-up)
"I have started practising seam bowling at the nets. It's not an old thing as I started bowling seam-up stuff recently at the nets during our Test series in Sri Lanka. I am just bowling seamers and I need to speak to our bowling coach Bharath Arun to see how I can further improve," Rohit said, ahead of South Africa series.
"My idea is to add value to the side. If I can bowl 10 to 12 overs per day and could be that third or fourth seamer of the side according to the conditions, my captain could be relieved. It is just that you need to constantly grow and add things in your armoury."
While critics have panned him for not converting promising starts in the Sri Lanka Test series, the 28-year-old believes that his performance was satisfying considering that his twin half-centuries came in a winning cause.
"I am satisfied with my performance in the Test matches. I know there was a chance to score a big hundred but my 50 in the third Test was satisfying. But I am not sitting on my laurels and would like to improve on it," said Rohit, who has scored 4,312 ODI and 870 Test runs, apart from 739 in T20Is.
There had been times his dismissals invited criticism, with some attributing it to his lazy elegance, but Rohit believes that it is not easy to tweak someone's natural game.
"People can say whatever they like but I can't change my natural game that has been there for 10 years. It's not going to change overnight. May be my stance, head position, some little things I might be able to improvise. I understand how people and media react. They watch the match only and come to a conclusion about a player's approach.
"But very few people seldom know what goes at the nets while preparing for a particular shot. If I am playing the pull shot in the match, I have practised it in the nets. There will be times when it won't come off but that does not mean you stop playing it. If there are technical difficulties, there is Sanjay Bangar (batting coach) to help us."