Acknowledging his recent performance shortfall in the ongoing IPL, India's skipper Rohit Sharma maintained a pragmatic approach, choosing not to dwell excessively on his batting struggles but rather focusing on maintaining the right mindset and addressing his weaknesses.
Despite being a pivotal figure in Mumbai Indians' five-time IPL victories, Sharma faced a slump in the latter part of the season, struggling to achieve significant scores in six matches.
Reflecting on his form, Sharma candidly admitted, "As a batter, I know I didn't live up to the standard. But, after playing for all these years, I know that if I overthink, I won't play well."
However, he found a resurgence in the final match against Lucknow Super Giants, delivering a commendable 38-ball 68. Despite his efforts, Mumbai Indians couldn't secure a win, ultimately concluding the season at the bottom of the table.
Sharma emphasized his commitment to maintaining a positive mindset and continuously refining his skills, stating, "All I try is to stay in a good mindset, in the right zone, keep practicing, and improve on all the flaws in my game. That's all I kept doing."
Assessing Mumbai Indians' disappointing season, Sharma accepted responsibility, acknowledging the team's numerous mistakes and missed opportunities. He remarked, "Our season didn't go according to plan. We blame ourselves for this because we made too many mistakes during the season. We lost many games that we should have won, but that's the nature of the IPL. You get a few chances and when those chances come, you must grab them."
Shifting focus to the impending T20 World Cup, Sharma revealed the team's preconceived notions regarding the squad composition, indicating that 70% of the players already had clarity regarding their roles.
"We thought a lot about the team we ultimately selected for the World Cup. The spinners, seamers, batters, and keepers, we knew before the IPL who we would take to the World Cup," Sharma disclosed.
Acknowledging the unpredictable nature of IPL performances, Sharma stressed the importance of providing clarity to players regarding their roles, enabling them to prepare effectively.
"The IPL performances for everyone can be up and down, so we didn't focus too much on that. We needed to see the performances of certain players, but it was important for us to give everyone the clarity they needed.
"Everyone going into the IPL needed clarity of whether they would participate in the team and what their role would be so they could practice and play accordingly. All of these indicators we had shared with 70% of the team before the IPL."
With India set to commence their T20 World Cup journey against Ireland in New York on June 5, Sharma's emphasis on clarity and preparation underscores the team's determination to excel on the global stage.
Read also | IPL 2024: After KKR and RR, SRH becomes third team to qualify for playoffs
