Mumbai youngster Rohit Sharma was relaxing in his hotel room at the Grand Ashoka hotel in Mumbai after the conclusion of the four-day batsmen’s camp on Monday evening when he got a phone call from his home, giving him the news of his selection in India’s squad for the three-match series against South Africa in Ireland.
“I am very happy and very excited,” the 20-year-old Sharma told the Hindustan Times minutes after the team was announced. “It’s a great opportunity for me. It’s the first time I am selected for India and I am looking forward to it.”
When the Indian cricket board announced after India’s World Cup debacle to send a 'young' team to Bangladesh, Sharma and Bengal’s Manoj Tiwary were expected to take the flight to Dhaka. While Tiwary made it to Bangladesh, Sharma had to wait for another month.
Sharma had a fantastic debut first-class season last year, with heroics for India ‘A’ in the EurAsia tournament and the Under-19 World Cup. While he converted his maiden first-class ton into a double, against Gujarat in December, the Borivali resident then also became the first batsman to score a century in the domestic Twenty20 tournament in April.
However, if he gets a chance in the playing XI, it will be in conditions where the ball will be moving a lot. But Sharma is not too worried.
{{/usCountry}}However, if he gets a chance in the playing XI, it will be in conditions where the ball will be moving a lot. But Sharma is not too worried.
{{/usCountry}}“I’ll talk to the seniors in the team and take it as it comes,” he said.
Sharma added that the four-day camp in Bangalore was helpful for him. “The camp has helped,” he said. “I just hope to give my best if and when an opportunity comes my way.”