Rohit Sharma wants to play the role of third or fourth seamer in Indian team

Sharma has one IPL hat-trick to his name

Indian batsman Rohit Sharma, who is known for his aggressive batting display, is practising seam bowling to add something to his swashbuckling batting nature. He wants to play the role of an important all-rounder in future when his team is in trouble.

"I have started practising seam bowling at the nets. It's not an old thing as I started bowling seam-up stuff recently at the nets during our Test series in Sri Lanka. I am just bowling seamers and I need to speak to our bowling coach Bharath Arun to see how I can further improve," Rohit was quoted saying by NDTV.

He continued: "My idea is to add value to the side. If I can bowl 10 to 12 overs per day and could be that third or fourth seamer of the side according to the conditions, my captain could be relieved. It is just that you need to constantly grow and add things in your armoury."

Rohit is a right-arm off break bowler, he has shown his bowling talent in the Indian Premier League where he also picked up a hat-trick while playing for now defunct Deccan Chargers team.

The 28-year-old batsman scored a vital half-century in the final Test match against Sri Lanka which kept Indian team's hopes alive in the series. Speaking about his performance, he said he wants to improve more.

"I am satisfied with my performance in the Test matches. I know there was a chance to score a big hundred but my 50 in the third Test was satisfying. But I am not sitting on my laurels and would like to improve on it," said Rohit.

People have always criticised Rohit for his lazy shot play style which has often got him out. Replying to the accusations, he believes it's difficult to change his natural game and it won't get fine-tuned in one single night.

"People can say whatever they like but I can't change my natural game that has been there for 10 years. It's not going to change overnight. Maybe my stance, head position, some little things I might be able to improvise. I understand how people and media react. They watch the match only and come to a conclusion about a player's approach.

"But very few people seldom know what goes at the nets while preparing for a particular shot. If I am playing the pull shot in the match, I have practised it in the nets. There will be times when it won't come off but that does not mean you stop playing it. If there are technical difficulties, there is Sanjay Bangar (batting coach) to help us."

The right-handed batsman, who is always tagged with 'Hit-man' of Indian cricket, has scored 4,312 ODI and 870 Test runs, apart from 739 in T20Is. He is one of the important batsmen in Indian cricket team right now, especially in the limited over formats and will be in action in the upcoming Mahatma Gandhi - Nelson Mandela series against South Africa.