Mentally you are always involved in the game: Mohit Sharma

Mohit Sharma had once been a revelation for team India. He performed exceedingly well in the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings and soon turned up for the national team. He was a part of the Indian team that toured Australia in 2015 for the ICC World Cup. He had bagged 13 wickets in 8 matches in the premier tournament. Since then he has been struggling to find his feet at the bowling crease. Despite being a member of the Indian team for the ICC World T20 earlier this year, he could not get a game.

Now, the pacer is vying a comeback in the national side. He has not been in consideration for the Indian team for quite some time now. However, the Haryana pacer believes that he has become mentally stronger than ever before. He remarked that India is currently blessed to have pool of such good pace bowlers. Mohit Sharma is currently plying his trade as Haryana’s skipper in the Ranji Trophy.

“You may be away from cricket physically but mentally you’re always involved in the game. It’s really great to have a pool of fast bowlers these days. It’s always a healthy competition and we are always in constant touch among ourselves off the field. I always keep talking to Shami and Bhuvi, it’s really motivating,” he quoted after the day 2 of Ranji encounter with Tripura.

Adding further, he said he has been trying to stay lean as it is helping him add a bit of pace to his bowling. “I did not compromise on my rehab and tried to ensure that I don’t put on weight. Glad that I’m able to add a couple of yards to my bowling,” mentioned Mohit Sharma.

Sharma believes that this is the worst phase of his short cricket career thus far. He called injuries as the least wanted things but added that one has to deal with it as a pacer. He has moved all his focus on fitness now. “Injuries are part and parcel of any fast bowler. You have to deal with it and it’s something that’s not in your hands. It has taught me a lot, about how to become mentally stronger come what may. My focus is primarily on fitness now. I have had a good last season,” he added.

He had a word of praise for Bharath Arun. Arun was the former India bowling coach. Mohit Sharma mentioned that working with Arun helped him a lot. “Bharath Arun has always inspired me. He always stresses on strengthening the mental aspect. After all, cricket is all about becoming mentally stronger and Arun has played a big role in this,” conceded the pacer.

Also, the Haryana skipper remarked that he is not trying to be an all-rounder. If that happens then it would be a gradual process. For now, his focus is to take his team to the knockouts of the Ranji Trophy.

“Becoming seamer all-rounder should happen as a natural progression. If the captain is convinced then gradually I would be promoted from Nos 10 to 9 to 7 or 8. But all my life I’ve concentrated on my bowling. If I am able to contribute to the team as a batsman, the captain would naturally notice this. I don’t want to run after it or do it consciously. It should happen in a steady manner. Now I’m leading my state and so I’m thinking more about the team, keeping the individual ambition aside. The focus firmly on taking my team to the quarters,” he concluded.