When I was asked to open in 2019, I knew it was my last opportunity in Tests: Rohit

London, Sep 05 (PTI): Senior India batsman Rohit Sharma has admitted that he knew it was his “last chance” in Test cricket when he was promoted to opener’s slot in 2019 and said he was happy to have utilised the opportunity.
Rohit, who on Saturday scored an impressive 127 for his first overseas hundred in the fourth Test against England, said accepting the opener’s role was one of the biggest decisions he took as a cricketer. “You could say so in hindsight,” Rohit said at the end of the third day’s play when asked if giving the green light to the team management about batting at the top of order was the biggest risk he took.
“In the back of my mind, I knew this was my last chance as well trying another position in the batting order,” he said after scoring his eighth Test hundred and fifth as an opener. Rohit said when the offer came to him to open the batting, he was mentally ready to take up the challenge and see how he can do well up the order. He was aware that there won’t be too many chances as his stint as a middle-order batsman didn’t go exactly well.
“I batted in middle order before and things didn’t go as per the way I wanted it to and I knew this was my last opportunity to try out and you know management is thinking whatever I want to try,” he stated.
However, sport is about taking chances that come one’s way.
“When you are playing a sport, you always have to take those chances, those risks and so I was ready for it and didn’t come to me as a surprise.
“It would have been my last opportunity if I wouldn’t have succeeded. Anything could have happened,” said Rohit, who was very straight forward in his admission. He did say that the team management had told him that he will get a long rope.