KOLKATA: Success can satisfy a lot of people. It makes some hungry for more. Going by what Rohit Sharma said after his world record 264 at Eden Gardens on Thursday, it seems he wants to belong to the second category. No bravado, no attempt to say he had proved detractors wrong. Sounding as humble as possible despite turning the fourth ODI into a one-man show, he said this will inspire him to work harder.
“I’m very happy because I never thought something like this will happen to me when I started playing cricket. But I’ve a lot more to do. This increases expectations as well as responsibilities. To live up to those, I’ll work harder. If I do that and focus solely on my game, there will be more good moments. I’m happy, not relieved,” said the only owner of two ODI double centuries, who began by thanking physio Vaibhav Daga for helping him recover from a finger fracture sustained in Cardiff on August 27.
Although he didn’t say it, Rohit must have been under pressure. Runs from Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane fuelled talks whether he should open or bat at No 4 in the World Cup. That might still be debated, but in the immediate context, it was imperative for him to get a good score. Signs of relief were palpable in his elaborate celebrations after reaching 100.
“This was a special hundred. The first few overs were not easy and I was feeling out of place. Early runs from the other end helped me settle down. After that, I was determined not to throw it away. It was very satisfying to stay there for 50 overs,” he said, adding that he realised he had broken Virender Sehwag’s record only after teammates started clapping.
The occasion perhaps didn’t demand, but looking ahead, there were questions on where he will bat. When the team is at full strength, one of Rohit, Dhawan and Rahane has to be dropped or pushed down the order. “Although that’s not for me to answer, I face this question quite often. I don’t know what to say. I have to bat wherever the team wants me to because team combination is more important than personal interests.”
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