Mumbai: India`s middle-order batsman Rohit Sharma, who missed last month`s home five-match ODI series against England due to a finger injury, today said he is satisfied with his recovery, having faced nearly 300 balls during his century against Railways last week.
"I`m 150 per cent fit now in terms of my batting, fielding and bowling. The only thing I wanted to test was the amount of balls I could play because if you have a finger injury, there are chances of your finger becoming tight or sore after playing 60-70 deliveries,"
"So I wanted to bat longer. I batted for about 290 balls. I am really happy," Rohit said on the eve of Mumbai`s clash against defending champions Rajasthan here tomorrow.
"I`m very happy with my batting and with the way things are going. I`m enjoying all the aspects of my game. I`m just thinking about what`s coming up next rather than thinking about the future," he added.
The 24-year-old batsman was ruled out of the five-match ODI series against England after suffering a fracture in the index finger of his right hand. He was hit by a Stuart Broad delivery in the Indian innings during the first ODI in Chester-le-Street in early September.
He made a comeback against Railways in the Elite League Group A match of the Ranji Trophy and scored a magnificent 175 (287b, 4x20, 6x1) to help Mumbai register a comprehensive 10-wicket win.
Sharma, who narrowly lost out on a chance to make his debut in the longer version of the game against South Africa at Nagpur in 2010 due to a freak injury just before the toss while playing football, said his index finger fracture in the backdrop of a good series against the West Indies was sheer misfortune for him.
"I don`t know (whether it’s a jinx). Its sheer bad luck. What can I say. Five minutes before making my Test debut I suffered an ankle injury and now the thumb injury ruled me out. That is really unfortunate. I never expected this to happen.”
"You can see where this injury can put you. I have to start from the scratch now. That`s really a setback. But I`am strong enough to make a comeback. I have the ability. I want to keep myself strong and keep myself fit for the international level," insisted Rohit.
The Mumbaikar had scored 257 runs in five-match ODI series in the West Indies earlier this year, including an unbeaten 86 in a difficult chase at Antigua in the third ODI to help India secure a 3-2 win over the hosts.
The right-hander, who has scored 1505 runs in 67 ODIs and 415 runs in 22 Twenty20s for India, said he was not insecure about his place in the national side despite stiff competition for a middle-order spot.
"There is no insecurity. If you are injured then you can blame no one but yourself. You can only get frustrated so instead you should concentrate on where you can improve," he said.
On whether he was eyeing a comeback during the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies, he said, "That`s always in my mind. But the next immediate goal is the match against Rajasthan tomorrow."
Rohit was also happy for his Mumbai teammate Ajinkya Rahane, who made his international debut in England and has since then found a place in the 15-member Test squad against the West Indies.
"I`m really happy for him. Given the amount of runs he has scored (in domestic cricket), he should have been in the team two years back. Good opportunity for him. I hope he utilises it if he get one (in the Test series)," said Rohit.
PTI
