'My Intent Was To Score Runs', Rohit Sharma After A Solid Comeback

After his dismissal off the bowling of spinner Nathan Lyon in the first innings of the fourth and final Test against Australia in Brisbane last month, Rohit Sharma was criticised for being too aggress

The 33-year-old batsman, who had struggled to cement his spot in the Test side for a long time before establishing himself at the top of the order in 2019 home Tests after 12 years of international cricket, has been the only batsman who has looked in control in the last two Tests.

Most other batsmen have been playing for the turn and been foxed by ones that have gone on straight.

Sharma got big scores in the home Tests in 2019 but was injured for the tour of New Zealand in early 2020. Post Covid-19 lockdown, he missed the first two Tests of Australia series due to hamstring injury and subsequent quarantine on late arrival in Australia. He played only from the third Test onwards.

But Sharma didn't hold back his shots and show any nerve on return from the break enforced by lockdown and injury.

That clear mindset was something no other batsman had in the last two Tests except for Ashwin in the second innings of second Test, though by that time England were already out of the match.

"I was trying to find ways to score runs. My intent was not to survive. My intent was to score runs. I had a clear mindset," Sharma said.

Sharma made his ODI and T20 International debut in 2007 but made his Test debut in 2013. His innings in these two matches have shown that at home, he remains the batsman to follow.