Indian batting star and T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma emphasised the importance of preparation and mental resilience when playing under high-pressure conditions.
He spoke on the show ‘Family Full House with Rohit Sharma’, highlighting his approach to maintaining focus amid intense crowd support and expectations.
During knockout matches in ICC events across formats, Rohit has scored 884 runs in 21 matches and 23 innings at an average of 44.20, including two centuries and two fifties, with a highest score of 137. His five Indian Premier League trophies as captain, alongside key performances in the T20 World Cup 2024 and ICC Champions Trophy wins, demonstrate his ability to thrive in pressure scenarios.
On the show aired on Sony Entertainment Television, singer Mika Singh asked Rohit how he manages to perform under immense pressure with a large crowd chanting his name, contrasting it with the relatively lower stakes for performers in shows with 10,000 to 15,000 fans. Rohit replied, “Sir, I think woh kya hai na, match khelne se pehle main apni preparation pe itna focus karta hoon ki jab main ground pe jaaun kisi ke saamne khelne ke liye, toh mujhe andar itna confidence rahe ki maine itne achhe se prepare kiya hai ki main jo aaj ground pe karna chahunga na, woh galat nahi hoga. Toh woh confidence rehta hai. Jaise hum bolte hain na ki jab hum exam dene jaate ho, toh padhai karke jaao. Toh I think mere liye bachpan se yahi raha hai ki mujhe achhe tareeke se prepare karna hai. Saamne kaunsi team khel rahi hai, saamne wale bowler kaunse hain, woh kahaan ball daalte hain, woh kahaan mujhe out karne ke liye dekhenge toh yeh sab cheez mere liye padhai hai.”
He further explained that every cricketer has their own method of preparation and mindset: “Lekin main batana chahunga ki saare cricketer ke apne-apne tareeke hain. Woh apne tareeke se prepare karte hain, apne tareeke se sochte hain. And I am sure, jitne bhi log abhi India ke liye khel rahe hain ya jinhone khela hai, woh apne tareeke se khel kar, prepare karke, jo bhi unhone desh ke liye kiya hai, woh kiya hai. Toh koi tareeka sahi ya galat nahi hota hai, bas aapko apna tareeka dhoondhna padta hai.”
Despite speculation regarding his place and fitness ahead of the 2027 World Cup, Rohit remains a key player for India. He is the country’s third-highest run-scorer in One Day Internationals (ODIs) with 12,120 runs in 291 matches and 283 innings, maintaining an average of 49.26, including 35 centuries and 63 fifties, with a top score of 264. This year, Rohit has scored 604 runs across 12 innings in ODIs at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 104.67, including two centuries and two fifties, with a highest score of 138.
In the recent ODI series against the West Indies, he was India’s second-highest run-scorer with 225 runs in three innings at an average of 75.00 and a strike rate exceeding 115, which included a century and a fifty, with a top score of 101.
Rohit, alongside Virat Kohli, is scheduled to participate in a five-match ODI series against New Zealand away from November 4, followed by three home ODIs against Sri Lanka starting on December 13.