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Rohit Sharma: Indian skipper admits to poor form, sounds ominous warning

Joel GouldAAP
India's captain Rohit Sharma says he has not batted well in the Test series against Australia. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)
Camera IconIndia's captain Rohit Sharma says he has not batted well in the Test series against Australia. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

India captain Rohit Sharma is short of runs but not short of belief that imperious boundaries will soon start to flow from his flashing blade again.

After the draw in the third Test against Australia, he was straight to the point about his lack of form and why he can turn it around.

“I have not batted well,” Rohit said.

“There is no harm in accepting that but I know what is in my mind and how I am preparing myself.

“All those boxes are very much ticked. It is just about spending as much time as possible (at the crease). I am pretty sure I am just there.”

Rohit has moved from opening into the middle order to accommodate in-form KL Rahul at the top, but it has not improved his own lack of runs.

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The 34-year-old skipper, who at his best is a dominant strokemaker who can destroy bowling attacks, came into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series with just 133 runs in his previous 10 innings.

Nothing has improved in the current Test series with scores of 3, 6 and 10.

Rohit’s strut and mojo at the crease may have gone AWOL for a short space of time but his steely resolve remains.

“As long as my mind, body and feet are moving well I am pretty happy with how things are panning out for me,” Rohit said.

“Sometimes, numbers tell you that it has been a while since (a batter) has got big runs but for a person like me it is all about what kind of prep I am having before each game and how I am feeling about myself.

“I am feeling good about myself to be honest. Runs are not showing that but inside it is a different feeling.”

Rohit was non-committal when asked about whether he would move back up the order for the fourth Test in Melbourne.

“I am not too sure about that. We have got a week off and we will think about it,” he said.

“There are a lot of chats. Whatever is the best thing for the team to do, we will do.”

Rohit rubbished suggestions that the animated celebration in the dressing room by Virat Kohli and others was a sign of mental weakness after tailenders Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah saved the follow-on with a 47-run 10th-wicket stand at the Gabba. The partnership snuffed out any chance of an Australia win.

“I have been here long enough to understand what are mind games and what are chit-chatters,” Rohit grinned.

“From our personal point of view we were behind the game. It is a little victory for us to avoid the follow-on, looking at how the weather was going to play and how the game was heading.

“Eventually, we have ended up with a draw when Australia was ahead in the game, but they didn’t manage to get the result. For us to celebrate that was a little victory for us and there is no harm in that.

“We enjoyed each and every moment and we saw two guys who were fighting for the team and we were really happy with that.”

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