There are very few batsmen in world cricket with the ability to pick the length of the ball as early as Rohit Sharma. The attacking batsman is capable of pushing the run-rate up, giving the bowlers more cushion to take 20 wickets. Captain Virat Kohli has spoken about his talent in detail and values his batting skills. He was drafted into the side in the recently concluded third Test against the West Indies and the batting order was revised to accommodate him at No.5. After falling cheaply in the first innings, Rohit made his second opportunity count. He smashed three sixes towards the end of day four, pushing the run-rate up before getting an unfortunate decision on the fifth day morning that forced him to return on 41 from 59 balls. In a frank chat with BCCI.TV, the Mumbai batsman spoke about his Test career, the intense scrutiny he faces and his role in the Test side. You got into the side for the third Test. In a situation like this when you do not play every game, how do you prepare and how difficult does it get? In such cases, I prepare as if I am playing. On game day when the team is announced and I know that if I am not playing, then my preparations, work ethics and everything that you do to improve as a cricketer does not stop. When I am not in the playing XI, it gives me time to work on my fitness and skills. I try and stay positive and look to enjoy the moment as these moments are never going to come back. I cherish each and every day I spend with the team whether it is on and off the field. At the start of the tournament we said we want to create memories, and I am creating memories and at the same time making sure that if I get an opportunity, I make the most of it. With the current Indian team, we have seen that the playing XI changes according to conditions and situations. How do you see your role with this team? I think when it comes to that it is important to know what the captain and the coach feel about it. My role is simple. Whenever I am told to play in a certain way, I am trying to play in a certain way. It happened once in Sri Lanka (2015) when I was moved in the batting order. It is not my choice. It is up to the management and I have to be ready for that. I have done that in ODIs and won’t shy away from doing that (in Test matches). Whatever position my captain and coach decide, I am up for it. Test cricket has undergone change. Now there is a need for batsmen to change the course of the match in a session. Captain Virat Kohli has earmarked you for that. How challenging is to attack in the longer format and have a healthy strike rate? If you want to be a top team, you’ve to adapt. Every team plays in a certain way and whatever suits our way, we have to play accordingly. I think the message to me was clear. There will be times when you have to change the course of the match and I am willing to do that. I am ready to take up the challenge and get the team into the best position. My natural game is to attack and put the pressure back on the bowlers whether I am facing the first ball or the last. I know situations are going to be different, but one thing is for sure that I am not going to change my natural game. I am what I am. I understand Test cricket cannot be played like One-Day cricket, but there are examples around the world of cricketers playing in a similar way. I should do what is best for me and I know what is best for me. Nobody in the world can tell me how to bat or how to not to bat. I have to stick to my game plan, stick to what has got me success since I started playing cricket. There is a certain way to bat in different situations and I am willing to do that. When it comes to limited overs format, you are peerless, but there is so much scrutiny you undergo when it comes to Test cricket. How do you manage to not let your natural game affect and bat the way you like to?

See, as long as you’re playing this game, scrutiny is never going to stop and I won’t let these things affect me. I have been in the situation before too. It does not bother me. What I should be concentrating on is the current situation. I have to live in the present. What is going to happen, I don’t know. What has happened, has happened and you can’t change that either. I am just following the process, which is about being happy and staying in a positive environment. Before making my ODI debut, I never thought I would be playing for so many years. I should be happy that I’ve come till here. I am really happy for what God has given me so far. There is plenty in store for me, I just need to be patient and not get frustrated. It is a wonderful world. You’ve played a lot of cricket with Virat Kohli and he also believes in playing attacking cricket. How is in the environment in the dressing room and his influence on the team? This team has decided to play in a certain way. I know it is not going to be easy to do that. Our immediate goal is to be the No.1 Test side in the world and we’re not too far away from that. When MS Dhoni retired, we knew that Virat Kohli was going to be the next captain. The message was clear from him that we needed to play in a way where we look for results and not draws. There is a way to do that and the guys are sticking to it. We have to understand situations when we are playing in a certain way and there are lots of procedures you’ve to follow. We are on our way to becoming No.1, it is not easy and we are working hard. We have had a good result in the Caribbean and have won all our last three Tests series. We are moving in the right direction and everything looks settled now. All we need to do is keep getting better as cricketers and as a team. Our target is to get better by 5-10 percent every game.