“In England in general, it’s pretty challenging conditions for batters. As long as you are prepared to have a good grind, you can have success,” Rohit stated, addressing his fellow cricketers Pat Cummins, Ross Taylor, and Ian Bell.
Drawing from personal experience, Rohit acknowledged the unpredictable nature of English weather and the constant challenge of never feeling fully “in” or settled. He stressed the need for sustained concentration and the development of intuition to identify the right moments to take on the bowlers.
“You need to keep concentrating for longer periods of time and you will get that intuition when it’s time to take on the bowlers. More importantly, you need to be out there and you have got to understand what your strengths are,” Rohit explained.
Recognizing his inclination towards data and analysis, Rohit suggested studying the scoring patterns of successful players who have excelled at the Oval. While he did not intend to emulate them, he believed that understanding their approach could prove beneficial.
“I am not going to try and emulate them (successful players) but it would be a bit nice to know their pattern of scoring. What I have found out at Oval is that the square boundaries are pretty quick,” Rohit shared.
Having successfully transitioned between formats for over a decade, Rohit acknowledged the challenges involved and expressed his enjoyment of the constant test it poses to his skills. He emphasised the need for adaptability, mental readiness, and self-reflection.
“That (change of formats) certainly has been the challenging factor. You know you play multi-format. Mentally you have to be very adaptable and tweak your technique. You need to be talking to yourself and get mentally ready,” Rohit explained.
Despite his numerous accomplishments in limited-overs cricket, Rohit holds Test cricket in the highest regard.
“It keeps challenging you. You want to be in these situations. You look forward and as a person, it brings the best out of you. In the last 3-4 years in Test cricket, we have had good success. Now it is about crossing that final hurdle and giving that confidence to youngsters so that they can play in the way they want to play,” Rohit concluded, highlighting the team’s aim to inspire younger players and achieve success in the upcoming World Test Championship final.
(With inputs from PTI)