Internet Desk: India’s star opener Rohit Sharma today said it’s an honour to be the deputy of Virat Kohli in the forthcoming five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, which will start from August 20. Though he further added that his role will be much different compared to his role in Mumbai Indians, where he was the captain last season.
“It is a huge honour to be appointed as the vice-captain,” Rohit said after the team’s optional practice session in Pallekele on Wednesday. “Ten years ago, I was only thinking of playing for India. Being the vice-captain now feels really, really good. It’s a kind of honour that whenever the opportunity comes – the first One-Dayer, when we come [play] on August 20 – there will be some sort of role that I will need to play, and I am looking forward to it. I am not thinking too much about it, I just want to enjoy the moment as of now. Yes, it will be a good opportunity for me to get on to the field.
“It’s a different ball game completely. IPL and when you come and play international cricket, it is completely different. But again, the excitement and the energy level is the same. So yes, nothing changes too much. I am the vice-captain here, there I was the captain, so I was more in front. Here I have to play a little behind-the-scene role. But yes, I will be very excited to step on to the field as the vice-captain of the Indian team.”
Rohit joined India’s optional practice session today, with KL Rahul and Axar Patel. He was seen practicing sweeps and reverse-sweeps, which might be a plan to play Lasith Malinga.
“Everyday is a learning day, today I got to learn something playing those sweeps and reverse-sweeps when someone like Malinga comes and bowls to you. It is something that the game demands these days. You got to be innovative and you got to play different kind of shots to get maximum results. You keep learning every day and I keep trying these things and learn about things I can do and things I cannot do. Every addition to your armoury is good and I am trying to see what I can add to my armoury. What better place than coming here and doing it; that’s what training sessions are all about. Come here, improve your skills, and try and get better as a player,” he added.
According to Rohit, Sri Lanka is a dangerous side in the limited-overs format, but India would look to stick to their basics and play to their strengths.
“I have no idea about the squad for this ODI series, but what they had in the Champions Trophy was a very good side. They beat us quite comfortably. So you know in One-Day cricket, they are a very good team. We just got to do what we have been doing for the past few years. We got to stick to our strength.
“We have been playing good cricket. West Indies was good, Champions Trophy was good except for one day – but that can happen – but in the past two years, we have played some consistent cricket in the ODI format. As far as I am concerned, we need to look at what we need to do as a team and bring out the best on the field. That’s what we did in the recent Test series. We just focused on what we need to do as a group and that has always been the talk. We need to focus on our ability and strengths,” he said.