Rohit says criticism doesn't affect him

After hitting an exact 50 and playing a part in India’s revival, Rohit Sharma said he is unfazed by criticism as he doesn’t expect the outside world to have high expectations of him.

“I have zero expectations outside,” said Rohit, often criticised for not making the most of the chances that has been presented to him. “What happens is irrelevant to me, you know because what happens outside is not going to help my cricket. What is going to help my cricket is me working hard, doing what I have been doing in the nets and getting better as a player everyday. And I will stick to it.

“It has happened to me in the past and you know till you play it will keep happening as a sportsman... No one goes through a very clean patch. They will have some sort of ups and downs in their career. I am no different and I can say things have been up and down, but as long as I am enjoying my cricket nothing can stop me. I am really enjoying with the boys, enjoying the victories we are having and I am a very positive person. Any sort of contribution that can help your team is more than enough for me,” said the Mumbaikar, whose crucial partnerships with Virat Kohli and Stuart Binny helped India to 274 and set Sri Lankans a target of 386 runs.

Rohit, who was projected as the next No 3 batsman for India at the start of the series before being asked to bat at No 5, said the change of position doesn’t affect him and he his ready to bat anywhere. “It’s really important what the captain and team management want. Personal preference is to bat wherever the team asks me to bat. That’s all I can answer. If you ask anyone, they are not going to say this is my number. Nowhere it is written in the world that No 4 belongs to this person, No 3 belongs to this person.

“As a batsman you want to bat as up the order as possible to get more opportunities and face more balls and score big runs. Again, the management felt that I bat at No 5 and they came and spoke to me and I was okay to whatever they wanted. The same thing happened to me in ODIs as well. They felt I should open for whatever abilities I have. So I agreed to do whatever they want me to do. I cannot have my own preference, it’s a team game and you do what the team wants from you.”