New Delhi: Former India Test captain Rohit Sharma opened up about his recently concluded Test career and said that the format was both “challenging and draining,” but he managed its demands by focusing on preparation.
The 38-year-old, who scored 4,301 runs at an average of 40.58 in 67 Tests, retired from the long format in May, a year after stepping away from T20I, having led India to a World Cup title in the format. On Monday, during a CEAT event, he looked back on his career while discussing preparations for high-pressure moments in a panel discussion.
Rohit Sharma opens up on how challenging Test cricket is
“It is something that you prepare for, because the game demands longevity,” he said.
“Especially in the Test format, you have to last for five days. Mentally, it is very challenging and it is draining as well. But all cricketers have been brought up playing First-Class cricket.
“When we start playing cricket at a competitive level, even in Mumbai, club cricket (matches) go on for two days (or) three days so we are built like that and it starts at a very young age for us. It kind of makes it a little easier how to respond to situations that are there in front of you,” he added.
Rohit also focused on the importance of thorough preparation
Rohit mentioned that not all young players understand the importance of thorough preparation early in their careers, but they come to understand its value over time.
“…when I started playing the sport, it was all about having fun, enjoying (it),” Rohit said “As you go on, you start playing age group cricket and you kind of keep moving forward from that. Slowly, as you meet a lot of senior players (and) coaches, they talk about how important it is to prepare well.
“When you are very young, you don’t understand the importance of preparation. But as you go along, you understand, it gives you a kind of discipline that the game asks for, so it starts with preparation, understanding what exactly you need to do,” he said.
Rohit mentioned that staying mentally fresh is a key to be a top performer
Rohit stated that maintaining momentum for top performance, particularly in Test cricket, starts with staying mentally refreshed.
“It takes a lot when you’re playing the longest format and concentration is something that is the key, because you are speaking about high level performance and when you are expecting to put in high level performance, it starts with being mentally fresh all the time,” he said.
“A lot of work starts behind the scenes. Like I said, in preparation. I have to go back again to that because that is where it all starts. You prepare yourself to sustain for the longer period of time on the field.” Rohit mentioned that his experience was no different, and gradually, he started dedicating a significant amount of time to preparations.
“It exactly happened to the same (way) with me, when I started playing for Mumbai and then went on to play for India. A lot of the focus, a lot of my time was given (on) how I prepped before the game,” he said.
“Because once the game starts, it’s all about reaction and you react to whatever is thrown at you, whether it is a pressure situation, whether it is making the right decision on the field with the bat or with the ball.
“A lot of time was devoted to prep and I’m sure it’s not just in cricket, but anywhere, whatever you do with life, I think preparation is the key,” he added.
Story Highlight
- Former India Test capatin Rohit Sharma opened up about his retirement from Test cricket after 3-months
- Rohit also highlighted that players need to undergo thorough training to be able to play Test cricket for a longer duration
- Rohit also mentioned that players need to stay mentally refreshed to be the top performer.