Rohit Sharma considers 2017 as the best year for him

In the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Mohali, Rohit proved that he is the well-deserved player to handle the responsibility of Indian captaincy in the absence of Virat Kohli as he not only scored an unbeaten knock of 208 runs off 153 balls but also helped Team India register a 141-run win. The 30-year-old has played 20 ODI games in 2017 in which he scored 1286 runs at an average of 75.64 with the strike rate of 100. 

“I would say this year has been the best year for me as a cricketer. I have been hitting the ball well,” he said as quoted by The Indian Express. 

The first ODI of the series in Dharamsala ended up as a disappointing one for the Indian team as they managed only 112 runs where Rohit contributed only two runs. But in the Mohali game, the batsman found his groove and revealed his mindset when he was at the crease while playing a big knock.

“It is very unlikely that bowlers are going to get you out post 100,” he said, “I just wanted to bat and bat. The thinking was why not get another 100 after the 100. I keep telling myself that if an opportunity arises, I have to be ready for it. What has happened in the past, I have no regrets. The future is bright. The last five-six months that has been the mindset,” said Rohit

The Mumbai player, who has played 23 Tests in his career, featured in only Two Tests this year in which he scored 217 runs in three innings including one century and two half-centuries.

“I wanted to be ready for Test matches. I knew the combination which we play, five bowlers sometimes and sometimes four, I may play or may not. I just have to prepare myself in a way that I am playing every game be at my best,” he said.

In 2013, Rohit played a knock of 209 runs in Bangalore and in the very next year he scored his second ODI double century as well. Yesterday, his third double century not only made him the first player in the world to do so, he also gave a warning sign to the Lankans ahead of the series-deciding ODI in Vizag.

“I am just trying to convert as many starts as I can, I know it is not going to happen all the time but when it happens, I try to make most of it,” the stand-in skipper quipped.

After the end of the Sri Lanka series, Team India will be travel to South Africa for a full series but Rohit claimed that he is concentrating only on the ongoing series. 

“I am someone who doesn’t look too far ahead so I won’t be talking about what we have to do in South Africa. I have been appointed captain for the first time, so I am only thinking about this series,” he said.

Rohit faced 115 deliveries to complete his century but he took 35 balls to finish his second ton.

“That is the style of my play,” he concluded.