Cuttack, (UNI) India captain Rohit Sharma reaffirmed the importance of batting deep as he returned to form with a scintillating ODI century against England at the Barabati Stadium, guiding India to a crucial victory here on Sunday.
Rohit’s knock not only anchored the innings but also highlighted his methodical approach to pacing a big score in the shorter format.
After being named Player of the Match, Rohit explained his strategy for constructing a long innings. “It’s a format that is longer than T20 cricket and a lot shorter than Tests. You still need to assess and bat according to the situation. I wanted to stay focused and bat as deep as possible,” he said.
The Indian skipper, who has long been known for his ability to convert starts into big scores, built his innings in phases, carefully assessing the pitch and opposition attack before accelerating. Facing a surface with black soil that caused the ball to skid, he adjusted his technique.
“When you play on black soil, the pitch tends to skid a bit, so it’s important to show the full face of the bat. They were trying to bowl into the body and not give room, so I prepared my plan accordingly,” Rohit noted.
Rohit’s century was well-supported by Shubman Gill (60) and Shreyas Iyer (44), both of whom played crucial roles in sustaining partnerships. “Gill is a very, very classy player. I have seen him from close quarters, and he doesn’t get overawed by the situation. The numbers are there as well, if I’m not wrong,” Rohit remarked, acknowledging the youngster’s composure.
He also underlined the significance of controlling the middle overs. “The game can go either way, but if you manage and squeeze in the middle overs, it helps you control the situation. In both games, even in Nagpur, we managed to contain the opposition in that phase,” he pointed out.
With the series now in India’s favour, Rohit emphasised the team’s commitment to continuous improvement. “We want to keep getting better as a team. As long as the players are clear about their roles and execute the plans given by the captain and coach, there isn’t much to worry about,” he said.
Rohit’s disciplined knock at Barabati reinforced his mantra of batting deep—an approach that has been key to his success and India’s dominance in the series.
