Used my brain, not power, to get the double: Rohit

“After you get a hundred, why not get another? Why not just keep batting?”

Rohit Sharma, fresh from slamming his record third double-century, made the philosophy behind his near habit of converting hundreds into especially big ones, sound like the most natural thing. After all, his 208 not out against Sri Lanka in the second One-Day International on Wednesday, was his fifth 150-plus score — joint highest with Sachin Tendulkar and David Warner.

According to Rohit, batting only gets easier after crossing the three-figure mark, for, the second hundred is simply about not making mistakes.

“The first 100 [takes] a little longer. [By] the second, you are set and seeing the ball nice and hard. You have understood what the bowlers are trying to do and it’s all about trying to play with the field. Once you get past hundred, it’s about not making a mistake and getting out. I am not saying it’s impossible [for the bowlers to get you out] but it’s very unlikely,” said Rohit, speaking to reporters after India’s 141-run win in Mohali.

On Wednesday, Rohit took 115 balls to get to his century, and only a further 36 to cross 200. This acceleration has been a feature of both his previous double-tons.

“All the three double-hundreds I got were in a similar pattern,” he admitted. “I started off very slow because I like analysing. I like to analyse the situation and conditions. The conditions initially were not so easy and we wanted to play out those initial overs, and then see what we can do.

“[I] started off slow, then picked up the pace and then in the end I accelerated. That is only because, like I said, unless you make a mistake, you are not going to get out … Bowlers are trying to [change] plans because things are not going their way.

“So, I count, I analyse and I talk to myself about it when I am batting. I feel after you get a hundred, batting will only get easier. You have been there, took out the toughest part of the game, which is the initial phase with the two new balls. You have batted that, your team is in a good position and you also have wickets in hand, so all those put together, gives you freedom to play those shots. I exactly did that.”

Batting gets easier, but that doesn’t mean all that six-hitting is easy, insisted Rohit, who, with 45 sixes in 2017, holds the India record for a calendar year.

“I am not someone like AB de Villiers, or Chris Gayle or MS Dhoni. I don’t have that much power. I have to use my brain to manipulate the field,” he said. “I have to stick to my strength, which is to hit through the line and play the field.”

Having five fielders inside helped, he added. “When you are out in the middle, you have to use your brain and you have to time the ball. Otherwise, it is not easy. I was trying to play with the field, playing a scoop shot, trying to hit over point. Those are my strengths,” he explained. “Shot selection becomes important.”

Rohit’s first double was against Australia in a series decider; the second, a mammoth 264 against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, was when he was making his comeback. This third comes in his second match as captain, standing in for Virat Kohli, when he was driven to do well both as batsman and leader, and with his wife watching teary-eyed. “So I don’t think I can rate any of my double-hundreds. All three were very important from the team’s prospective,” he said.

Yet, this third caps off a particularly special year for Rohit: he came into the ODIs having made an unbeaten century and two fifties in three innings against Sri Lanka on his return to the playing XI.

“This year has been the best year for me as a cricketer,” agreed Rohit. “I kept telling myself that whenever the opportunity arises, I should be ready for it … I just have to prepare myself in a way that I am playing every [Test]. That really helped me.”

His form bodes well for India, who have a tour of South Africa coming up at the turn of the year. Rohit insists he will think about that series only after this one is successfully wrapped up, but the confidence and hunger is unmistakable. “Yes I have not had a good time there, but I am quite determined to change that.”