Monday, March 21, 2011

Rohit gets Candid

“I feel sick of myself for not being in the World Cup”

The World Cup fever soars as the Indian squad is in Bangalore for their final frontier, but he was in Vadodra, working hard for the Vijay Hazare Trophy after not making it to the Indian’s World Cup squad. Rohit Sharma gets candid to Dhairya Ingle, about his school life, importance of sports and his efforts for a dream comeback.

1. The World cup is round the corner during the exams, how do you think the students are going to get affected by this?
Ans: Oh yes! (Pauses) Because I remember when I was a kid, I preferred missing out on a few subjects than the cricket match India played. Also cricket is a religion in India and also the World Cup is happening in India. So it is obvious that the youngsters will be into cricket. However, the smart ones or the mentally strong students will escape to all these things.

2. How were you in your studies and tell us about your strong subjects.
Ans: I was good student till my 8th std, but post that most of the times since I played cricket most of the times so I didn’t have enough time to concentrate on my studies. However I was good at Maths and Geometry and was really bad at History and Geography.

3. How did you manage to juggle your time between studies and cricket?
Ans: It was really difficult for me to do that since I used to wake up at 5.00 am and reach Wankhede Stadium by 7.00 am for practice all the way from Borivali. From there I used to be back by 2 or 3 pm. By 3.30 I used to finish up with my lunch and rest for an hour or so. Then it was studying time and I used to study till 8 or 9 and post dinner it was sleeping time. This was my everyday schedule with no leisure time apart from vacations or sometimes if I didn’t have practice.

4. Do you think much of an importance is given to sports in the schools today?
Ans: Yes definitely.. I think if you see today, sports has become an integral part of all the schools. My school, Swami Vivekanand International School, has won many sports competitions. Apart from cricket they are also into hockey, football etc.

5. How important is school sports a child to make it big in life?
Ans: I think it is very important since, you see right from the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar to someone like a junior Ranji Trophy player; all of them have played some sport or the other in their school life. Sports make the students physically and mentally strong which helps them not only in studies but also cope disappointments.

6. Do you still study?
Ans: (Laughs) No, post SSC I got selected for the Ranji trophy and then international. And now we play competitive cricket for at least ten months in year so no time to study.

7. What message would you like to give to the upcoming youngsters?
Ans : Well I would like to keep it simple.. Do right things on a right time; things will automatically fall in its place.

8. As a cricketer how difficult is it for you not getting through the world cup squad?
Ans: It is really very tough for me to sit out since I have always played cricket and no cricketer likes sitting out of the squad. And the worst part is you curse yourself for watching others scoring the runs you could have scored being in the squad. Everyone including my parents were expecting that I shall get though the world cup squad easily but I feel sick of myself for letting them down.

9. How are you preparing yourself to bounce back in the team?
Ans: Well the answer to this would be runs, runs and runs. Not getting selected is not an end of the world. I am trying my level best to regain my place in the team. I just want my parents and my fans to be a little positive and people will see me back in the squad.