"England is the most challenging place to play cricket" - Rohit Sharma

Team India opener Rohit Sharma has stated that England is the most challenging country to play cricket. According to the 34-year-old, performing well in the country gives cricketers a lot of satisfaction because of the tough conditions on offer.

Rohit Sharma is currently in England as part of India's Test squad for the five-match series. The second Test got underway at Lord’s on Thursday.

Speaking to Dinesh Karthik in an interview on Sky Sports, Rohit Sharma said that although he has featured in only two Tests in England, he is well aware of the challenges of playing in the country.

“England is the most challenging place to play cricket without a doubt. We have seen that over the years. The entire cricketing fraternity talks about it. I have experienced that as well. I have played only two Test matches here but I have played a lot of white-ball cricket.

"It is challenging, so as a cricketer you always feel good about yourself when you do well in those kind of situations and places where it is always challenging. I know what is expected of me and that is all I am trying to think, to be in a good frame of mind.”

Rohit Sharma admitted that India have their best chance of winning in England this year. According to the opener, India have a strong side while the hosts are slightly weak in the batting department.

“I just want us to win. I am not worried about how much runs I am going to get or how many hundreds I need to score. It is a great chance for us to win here because we have the team. We have the bowlers to take 20 wickets. We want to challenge their (England’s) batters. They have a bit of inexperience in the middle-order but they are all good. But this is our best chance to win in England.”

Clean bowled 🎯Rohit Sharma's solid knock comes to an end as he falls for 83.#WTC23 | #ENGvIND | https://t.co/rhWT86mZ0z pic.twitter.com/lRBibsyQWR

— ICC (@ICC) August 12, 2021

I don’t understand this term lazy elegance: Rohit Sharma on his style of play

The words "lazy elegance" have often been used to describe Rohit Sharma’s batting. However, the Indian dismissed the observations and pointed out that he needs to be just as alert as other batters to succeed.

“When you are playing a sport, you cannot be lazy. If you are lazy, you cannot achieve what you want to achieve on the field. You have to be at it. You cannot be ahead of the opposition if you are lazy. When I play that pull shot, there is an effort. I don’t think people understand that. They have been talking about this since I started playing for India.”

“I don’t understand this term lazy elegance. I have also heard that ‘he has got a lot of time’. I don’t have any extra time. You know that when you are playing the bowler, you have to be at it. Every batsman is challenged when he is facing the bowler. You have to be on top of your game and mindset to come out on top. Technically, you can say he plays the ball late.”

Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul featured in an opening stand of 126 on Day 1 of the second Test at Lord’s. Rohit was eventually dismissed for 83 off 145 balls by James Anderson.