After a century only batsman’s own mistake can dismiss him, says Rohit Sharma

After a century only batsman’s own mistake can dismiss him, says Rohit Sharma

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BCCI

Rohit Sharma has stated that after a batsman is settled enough to reach his century, his dismissal then doesn’t rely on a bowler anymore but his own mistake. The three-time ODI double centurion also said that it is very much possible for him to reach the triple ton in ODIs if things go his way.

Rohit Sharma ended 2017 amassing a humungous 1293 runs in ODIs that included one double ton, six centuries, and five half-centuries. Garnering 816 points, the 30-year-old opener is currently the World No.5 in ICC rankings of top batsmen. The Mumbai man sent shockwaves across the world with his display in the recently concluded series against Sri Lanka, where he was unbeaten at 208 in the Mohali ODI and equaling David Miller’s record of the fastest century in T20I cricket in Indore.

For a batsman so acquainted with triple figures, Rohit believes that after he has scored a century that a bowler cannot dismiss him unless he decides to do something suicidal. 

“After you score a century, it's highly unlikely that bowlers will look to get you out as much as they'll try to curb the run flow. It's only if you commit a mistake that you'll be walking back. Like in my case, after I reach a hundred, a potential outswinger is not what's worrying me. I'm entering a zone from where only my mistake will allow me to fail," said Rohit in an interview with TOI.

Rohit has been dismissed thrice after scoring a century in ODIs this year against Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand respectively, and he has been caught on all three occasions, reflecting the batsman’s attempt to go for the big hit after reaching the 100 mark. While Virender Sehwag, Chris Gayle and Martin Guptill have all scored the double ton in ODIs, no one has done it thrice and the Indian batsman feels that his more frequent attainment of the milestone gives him the edge over others.

“The only difference is that because I've done it thrice (200+), I know how to do it also. So the only advantage I perhaps enjoy is that I've been there thrice. But let me tell you one thing: If you are a top order batsman and you continue to bat with the mindset that you've got to stay there for the entire 50 overs, anything is possible on a day when things go your way," Rohit added.

Among all his double tons, Rohit Sharma came closest to scoring a triple ton at the Eden Gardens in 2014 against Sri Lanka where he scored an unbelievable 264 runs, giving his fans a hint of his ability to reach 300 in ODIs. When asked about it, the right-hander said that "anything is possible on a day when things go your way”.

“I was asked after scoring 264 was if I could've touched 300. In T20s too, you score a hundred and the question is if a 200 is possible. I want to keep telling them, 'guys please relax'. Only 36 runs separate a 264 and 300, so what's the big deal? That's how it's seen. In my mind, I can understand where they're coming from. But, on a personal front, I never think like that," Rohit said.

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