Rohit Sharma not on tour to ‘have fun’

Rohit Sharma and India are intent to salvage the ODI series v South Africa on Wednesday before two Tests against the Proteas later this month.

After suffering two heavy defeats to South Africa, India will look to bounce back in Wednesday's third ODI. Anesh Debiky / AFP

PRETORIA // Rohit Sharma is only 26, but he has already seen plenty of what a life lived in cricket entails.

Branded the next big thing as a teenager from the Bombay school of batsmanship, Rohit was squeezed into an India one-day international batting line-up bursting with ability. When at first Rohit did not succeed, some patience was shown before he was dropped from the squad for the 2011 World Cup, which India went on to win.

That hurt, but as much as people questioning his ability, Rohit went back to the drawing board, worked hard on his fitness and regained form. Few players have been given the chances that Rohit has received, but India’s persistence paid off.

A 209 in an ODI was followed by a sensational Test debut, in which he rattled off 177 at Eden Gardens and a fighting rearguard 111 not out in Mumbai. To say Rohit was in the form of his life when he landed in South Africa would not be an exaggeration. Yet, in both ODIs, runs have eluded him – and the team.

“In the last two games, we obviously didn’t bat well, which is why we lost,” he said. “There is no excuse of being short on match practice or something. We have been playing continuously in the last three months or so, and we just need to be aware of our shot selection.”

Rohit said the team was keen to prove a point today after two crushing defeats.

“Of course we are here to compete and not have fun and just look around South Africa,” he said. “Since the day we arrived here, we wanted to prove a point. We know exactly what we need to do to win this game. The bowlers will have to step up, the batsmen will have to step up. We need to get together, and be in their faces right from ball one.”