Former India captain Rohit Sharma stated on Monday that he learned to deal with the demands of the traditional format by concentrating on preparation, but that it is also “challenging and draining” in his reflections on some elements of his Test career.
The 38-year-old retired from the five-day game in May, almost a year after ending his career in T20 Internationals. He averaged a respectable 40.58 for his 4301 runs in 67 Test matches. Before leaving the shortest format, Rohit led India to the June 2024 ICC T20 World Cup championship.
During a panel discussion at an event in Mumbai, on Monday, Rohit said: “It is something that you prepare for, because the game demands longevity,” he said.
“Especially in the Test format, you have to last for five days. Mentally, it is very challenging and it is draining as well. But all cricketers have been brought up playing First-Class cricket.
“When we start playing cricket at a competitive level, even in Mumbai, club cricket (matches) go on for two days (or) three days, so we are built like that and it starts at a very young age for us. It kind of makes it a little easier how to respond to situations that are there in front of you,” he added.
According to Rohit, not all young players see the value of thorough preparation at the beginning of their careers; instead, they come to comprehend it over time.
“…when I started playing the sport, it was all about having fun, enjoying (it),” Rohit said
“As you go on, you start playing age group cricket and you kind of keep moving forward from that. Slowly, as you meet a lot of senior players (and) coaches, they talk about how important it is to prepare well.
“When you are very young, you don’t understand the importance of preparation. But as you go along, you understand. It gives you a kind of discipline that the game asks for, so it starts with preparation, understanding what exactly you need to do,” he said.
Being psychologically fresh is the first step in maintaining momentum for good performance, Rohit remarked, particularly in Test cricket.
“It takes a lot when you’re playing the longest format and concentration is something that is the key, because you are speaking about high level performance and when you are expecting to put in high level performance, it starts with being mentally fresh all the time,” he said.
“A lot of work starts behind the scenes. Like I said, in preparation. I have to go back again to that because that is where it all starts. You prepare yourself to sustain for the longer period of time on the field.”
Rohit stated that it didn’t unfold any differently for him and, with time, he shifted his focus towards meticulous preparations.
“It exactly happened to the same (way) with me, when I started playing for Mumbai and then went on to play for India. A lot of the focus, a lot of my time was given (on) how I prepped before the game,” he said.
“Because once the game starts, it’s all about reaction and you react to whatever is thrown at you, whether it is a pressure situation, whether it is making the right decision on the field with the bat or with the ball.
“A lot of time was devoted to prep and I’m sure it’s not just in cricket, but anywhere, whatever you do with life, I think preparation is the key,” he added.
