Rohit Sharma Opens Up About Challenges Of Test Cricket: 'Mentally It Is...'

Rohit Sharma called time on his Test career recently after playing 67 times for India and scoring 4,301 runs. He is no longer active in T20 Internationals (T20I) as well, having retired from the format after the T20 World Cup 2024.

With one eye on the 2027 One-Day International (ODI) World Cup, Rohit will lead India in Australia, where they will play three 50-over matches.

However, speaking on the challenges of Test cricket, Rohit revealed how mentally taxing it is.

“Especially in the Test format, you have to last for five days. Mentally, it is very challenging, and it is draining as well. But all cricketers have been brought up playing First-Class cricket," Rohit said at a CEAT event, as reported by Sportstar.

“When we start playing cricket at a competitive level, even in Mumbai, club cricket [matches] go on for two days [or] three days so we are built like that and it starts at a very young age for us. It kind of makes it a little easier how to respond to situations that are there in front of you,” he added.

Rohit, who last played a Test against Australia in December last year, also believes that is important to prepare for it right from a young age.

“...when I started playing the sport, it was all about having fun, enjoying [it]. As you go on, you start playing age-group cricket and you kind of keep moving forward from that. Slowly, as you meet a lot of senior players [and] coaches, they talk about how important it is to prepare well," he said.

“When you are very young, you don’t understand the importance of preparation. But as you go along, you understand, it gives you a kind of discipline that the game asks for, so it starts with preparation, understanding what exactly you need to do,” he said.

Rohit, who also led India in Tests, reckons that concentration is key, especially when you play at such a high level. “It takes a lot when you’re playing the longest format, and concentration is something that is the key, because you are speaking about high-level performance, and when you are expecting to put in high-level performance, it starts with being mentally fresh all the time,” he said.

“A lot of work starts behind the scenes. Like I said, in preparation. I have to go back again to that because that is where it all starts. You prepare yourself to sustain for a longer period of time on the field.

“It exactly happened to the same [way] with me, when I started playing for Mumbai and then went on to play for India. A lot of the focus, a lot of my time was given [on] how I prepped before the game

“Because once the game starts, it’s all about reaction and you react to whatever is thrown at you, whether it is a pressure situation, whether it is making the right decision on the field with the bat or with the ball.

“A lot of time was devoted to prep, and I’m sure it’s not just in cricket, but anywhere, whatever you do with life, I think preparation is the key."

Rohit led in 24 matches since taking charge in 2022, in which India won 12 and lost nine.