India vs Sri Lanka: Rohit Sharma elated in 'best year' of his cricket life

Rohit Sharma celebrating with team-mates MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal

Mohali: It has been raining runs for Rohit Sharma and he had little hesitation in calling 2017 the "best year" of his decade-old international career.

Rohit, who smashed his third double hundred in ODIs here, has scored seven hundreds this year (six in ODIs and one in Tests) marking a successful return to international cricket following a thigh surgery last November.

"I would say this year has been the best year for me as a cricketer. I have been hitting the ball well," said Rohit after India's series-leveling win against Sri Lanka.

The opener is a vital part of the limited-overs team but is not yet a sure starter in the Test eleven. But what helped him get a bagful of runs is the mindset that he will play every game.

"I keep telling myself that if an opportunity arises, I have to be ready for it. What has happened in the past, I have no regrets. The future is bright. The last five-six months that has been the mindset," said Rohit.

"I wanted to be ready for Test matches. I knew the combination which we play, five bowlers sometimes and sometimes four, I may play or may not. I just have to prepare myself in a way that I am playing every game be at my best," added Rohit.

"I am just trying to convert as many starts as I can, I know it is not going to happen all the time but when it happens, I try to make the most of it," the stand-in skipper added.

Playing his first series as full-time captain, Rohit has not yet shifted his focus on the South Africa tour beginning early next month.

"I am someone who doesn't look too far ahead, so I won't be talking about what we have to do in South Africa. I have been appointed captain for the first time, so I am only thinking about this series," he said.

His first double hundred came against Australia at Bangalore in 2013 while the second one was against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens three years ago.

Asked to compare those with the one he scored in Mohali, Rohit said: "I can't rate this because the other two were as important as this one. The first one against Australia was the series decider and second one against Sri Lanka, I was coming back from injury."

"It (264 against SL) was a world record score and that has to be right up there. This one as well, we had to come back in the series, it was my first captaincy stint, also as a batsman I wanted to do well. I don't think I can rate them as all three were very important from the team's perspective."

It was a typical Rohit special as he took time early on before playing his strokes towards the end. After scoring the first 100 off 115, he raced to the next 100 in just 36 balls.

"That is the style of my play," he said when asked how he likes to pace his innings.

"The first 100 took time but the next was one a lot faster. That is because you are set, you can see the ball nice and hard, you know what the bowlers are trying to do, so you are just trying to play with the field. Once you get past 100, it is all about you not making mistake and getting out.

"It is very unlikely that bowlers are going to get you out post 100. I just wanted to bat and bat. The thinking was why not get another 100 after the 100."

He hammered 12 sixes in his breathtaking effort – most of them coming on the on-side. When Rohit bats, he makes even the six-hitting look easy but that is actually not the case.

"Nothing is easy in cricket. Trust me when you are in the middle you have to use your brains, you have to time the ball. It is not easy. 

"You must have seen I was trying to play with the field, trying to play the scoop shot, trying to hit over point. Those are my strengths. That is the advantage of having five players inside. The shot selection becomes very important," he explained.