I played to my strengths, says Rohit

It is turning out to be a phenomenal year for Rohit Sharma. The India opener, who has hit six ODI centuries this season, took it a notch higher on Wednesday when he hit his third double century in the format. The 30-year-old admitted the year has been his best as a cricketer.

Rohit's six tons have come in 20 innings and he became just the third Indian opener to hit six centuries or more in a calendar year.

"This year has been the best for me as a cricketer. I have been hitting the ball quite well. I have no regrets about what has happened in the past. The future is bright. I wanted to be ready for the opportunity in Test matches.

"Because of combination of bowlers I sometimes may not get to play. I looked to bat 50 overs and score as many as possible. It may not happen all the time but whenever I see the opportunity I try to make the most of it," said Rohit after his unbeaten 208.

The Mumbai batsman, who previously had one double century each against Australia (209 in Bangalore, 2013) and Sri Lanka (264 in Kolkata, 2014) said it was difficult to rate his three double hundreds.

"The other two were as important as this one. The first one against Australia made the series 2-2. For the one against Sri Lanka I returned from an injury, so for that reason it was right up there. Here we wanted to come back as a batting group. So it was important. Also because it was my first captaincy stint.

"As a batsman I wanted to do well and take my team into good position," said Rohit, who is the only batsman to score three doubles in ODIs. The other batsmen don't even have two double hundreds.

Rohit's three double hundreds have followed a similar pattern -- a steady start followed by quick acceleration. "I think that is the style of my play. The first 100 took a little longer, the second hundred was faster because I was set. You understood what the bowlers were trying to do by then. It was all about playing according to the field. Once you get past 100, it was all about me not making mistake and batting as long as possible. There is no formula to it," he said.

"I like to analyse situations and conditions which were initially not easy. I wanted to play out the overs. I am not someone like AB De Villers or Chris Gayle or MS Dhoni, I don't have that much power. I have to use my brain to manipulate the field, and stick to my strength which is to hit through the line."

Rohit is now determined to do well in South Africa "I have not had a good time in South Africa but I am quite determined to change that. I will have to make a few technical changes."