Hitting sixes is not easy: Rohit Sharma

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has admitted that he is not powerful like AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle or MS Dhoni when it comes to hitting sixes. He smashed the third double century of his ODI career on Wednesday against Sri Lanka in what was a must-win game for the Men in Blue. India won the match handsomely and levelled the series to set up the decider in Visakhapatnam. However, the ‘Hitman’ feels that hitting sixes is not easy at all and it takes a lot of hard work.

Rohit saw off the new ball under hazy conditions early on and then latched onto the freebies offered by the bowlers. He swiftly changed the gears after reaching his 16th century and hit sixes at will. His ability to smash sixes at will has earned him the comparison with the likes of de Villiers and Gayle. But he believes in analysing the situation and then play his shots after settling his eye in.

All double-hundreds are special

Rohit Sharma cleared that the art of hitting sixes can only be mastered with a lot of practice and hard work in the nets. “Hitting sixes is not easy, trust me. It comes from lots of practice and hard work. Nothing is easy in cricket when you watch it on TV, it may look simple. But today, I was trying to manipulate with their field setting, by playing those scoop shots, which I believe has been my strength,” he said after India’s series-levelling victory in Mohali.

He also went on to say that all double centuries are close to his heart but 264 against Sri Lanka was special as he was making a comeback from his injury. “The first double century came against Australia after the series was locked 2-2, while the second was also crucial as that also had come against Sri Lanka and more importantly, it was a record score. Even this one is special, because of the circumstances in which it had come. We were 1-0 down in the series, and after our loss in Dharamsala, I was keen to do well as a batsman and help my team. So, this knock is also special as this is my first as a captain of India… So, all the three double hundreds are important for me, as it has helped my team,” Rohit added.

The 30-year-old Indian opener also said that he is not a powerful hitter like other hitters around the world and thrives on his own strength. “I like to analyse situations and conditions which were initially not easy. I wanted to play out the overs. I am not someone like AB de Villiers, Gayle or Dhoni. I don’t have that much power. I have to use my brain to manipulate the field, and stick to my strength which is to hit through the lines,” the stand-in skipper signed off.