Having received the baton of captaincy from Virender Sehwag, Mohit Sharma has got Haryana off to a good start in the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season. At the end of three rounds, the team is sitting comfortably at the top of the Group C points table.
While saying that he has been waiting for the season since the last day of the last game of Ranji Trophy 2015-16, when they were relegated, Mohit stated that all efforts by everyone involved from management to players are focused on getting the team elevated again. He himself has been seeking advice from the likes of MS Dhoni and Sehwag to help the team put their best foot forward. He has been trying to implement what he has learnt from playing under and with India’s skipper in the limited format and the young India captain to help his team fulfill their goals.
Discussing the team’s performance, Mohit credited the good run to the preparation ahead of the season not only to skills but more so, on the mental and fitness aspects. The pacer mentioned that meticulously planned sessions and one-on-one talks helped the team to be in the position that they are in today.
Excerpts from the interview:How did you look at the responsibility after being named the captain?It felt good when I was told about it. When you are handed captaincy it also means extra responsibility and I was ready for it. I had a talk regarding the same with sir earlier as well. I had led the team last season (2015-16) in two matches and we had been planning about how to go about the season - what to do and what not since we didn’t have a good season the last time. So this year we have to do everything that we can to elevate the team. Because when you are at this level (Group C) no matter how well you perform it doesn’t make much of a difference. With all that in mind, we had started preparations accordingly last season itself and planned camps etc to work towards the goal along with Anirudh sir (Chaudhry) (Honorary Secretary HCA). So how, where and when to play practice matches all that was planned systematically and it is helping us now (when we are playing in the tournament).
How much bigger was the responsibility since the team was relegated?We were relegated last season (2015-16). I played the last match and I have been waiting for this day (this season) since the last day of that game. When will this season start? I played other tournaments like the IPL and for India, but I was waiting for this season because when you are relegated it hurts more. Being demoted hurts in any context. If you look at it practically, every year two teams will be relegated and two elevated. We have to put in our best efforts, processes and we were waiting for this. We have planned accordingly. Everyone is thinking the same thing, ‘one way or the other we have to get elevated no matter what we have to do’. So, we are focused more on the process than the result. The efforts are towards doing the processes the best that we can, practice and keep the team together.
Can you please elaborate on the preparations and how you went about it?Sir believes that ours is a very talented team, everyone is young and have performed (in whatever tournaments/ matches they have played in). Some of them have scored centuries, played crucial roles, taken wickets in their debut games and season. Since the players are talented (and the skill and training aspect is done routinely) we worked on the mental aspect a lot (since that is an important factor). We have been working on helping the players believe in themselves and the team that it can perform and win as well. So we have worked on team bonding which is visible on the ground now and we are supporting each other. Also, things that we would sometimes discuss later, or talk about after the game or end of day’s play are now happening right there. I think that the talk sir had with players individually has made all the difference.
What kind of team building exercises were done? Were they along the lines that are done in corporate etc?Yes. We started doing this when we went to play in the KSCA tournament. We had those conducted specially for us. (Guest speakers like) DJ (CKM Dhananjai) and couple of others did a lot of team bonding exercises, the kind of which have been used with the Indian team as well during the World T20 and when we went to Australia. At KSCA (during the tournament) we used those methods with our team as well which has also helped bridge the game between the seniors and juniors. Everyone has gelled well together. It has had positive impact on the performances too which has in turn helped the team do better as well.
Besides playing KSCA tournament what were the other preparations like?We had camps in Lahli ahead of the season. We were having two-three day camps at regular intervals where we would have fitness tests. It is very important to do that, because if you are undergoing a fitness test once in a year then a person can get ready for it ten days prior and get through. When you have one every 15 days then you have to maintain the fitness and keep getting better which means you have to do your training routines continuously. We had started planning these two-three months before hand. Everyone has come out on the right side.
The planning was good and that has helped. When you are playing four-day games fitness becomes all the more important. With regards to skill training that too was done systematically and with only minor adjustments. In the mornings we did fitness then nets in the evening.
Since you have a quite a few youngsters in the team what do you tell them about facing veterans and bigger stars?When such a situation arises boys now ask (talk about it). I always say we have to rely on our strengths at all times. I shouldn’t bowl thinking about the batsman who is facing me, but bowl according to my strengths. I have to do what I have been doing for years now. If I try to do according to the batsman in front of me I will be at a disadvantage. I tell the youngsters the same thing, that, we have to play according to our strengths and not according to the opposition.
Whatever it is that we have been doing so far (and has worked for us) we have to keep doing that in practice as well, because I think that in days (multi-day) cricket it is pertinent that we repeat the boring things over and over again. We go and bowl at the same spot again and again, now the boring part is over and the interesting part has started. When you are rewarded for doing that is when you start enjoying it more; and that is what the boys too have started enjoying now. It feels good to watch that, also we learn from watching the youngsters. All this has also made the dressing atmosphere really good.
Do teams have to prepare and plan differently than before since the matches are at neutral venues?Earlier if we were playing home games, there was a possibility that we were maybe playing one or even two-three back-to-back matches at home and then going away. It used to be planned before hand, we would be playing one game, but at the same time planning for next ones.
According to me that isn’t right. The best part now is that we are focusing on one game (the game at hand) at a time which is important. In cricket or any sport it is important that you focus and finish what you are working on and then turn to the next one, so that is benefitting us. Boys are enjoying playing at neutral venues, the travelling and all of that. How you look at something is important. Everything has two sides to it - positive and negative. One can look at it as too much travelling, and therefore tiring and all that, but the other way to see it would be that if you were playing for India you have to travel after every match. Right now the atmosphere in the team is that, if you are playing at the higher level then you have to travel after every match, so why not prepare for it from now itself and everyone is thinking about it that way.
Strategically how do you prepare for neutral venues?
There is no need to think too much (over think). I believe that if I sit in the room and plan now it wouldn’t be possible to do that (wouldn’t happen the same way). I try and see to it that I react and work according to the situation when I am on the ground, I feel that’s better always.
Playing a lot of cricket under Mahi ‘bhai’ (MS Dhoni) has helped me a lot. If I can do even do 0.5 percent of what and the way he does or watching Virat (Kohli) if I can learn something from him. So I get to learn a lot from them and I try to apply those with the team and if the team and I can benefit from the experience then (in the long run) overall it benefits the team only.
What have you picked or learnt about captaincy from Dhoni?
There are a lot of things I wish I could do like him, but then at the end of the day our natures are different. I am a bowler and I get angry a little more, but I try to keep it in check so that it doesn’t affect my bowling. Generally I don’t show any reaction while bowling. When I am not bowling and see something has not gone well in fielding or bowling is not happening according to the plan then I do feel angry, but I try to control that. Slowly now, match by match I can see its outcome as well. And the best thing about it is that it is having a good effect on my personal life as well.
I have also learnt how to control situations on the field and how to get back control/momentum back in our favour when things are not going your way. The situation will not be in our control always, sometimes there will be sessions when you won’t get wickets and when the opposition is scoring easily. So what to do when that happens and what not to do, those are the kind of things I am learning.
Before the season when we had a fitness test in Bangalore where I had a chat with Mahi bhai about how to work with the team and how to work towards getting elevated. What can I do with the team so that our team does well. He spoke to me about a lot of things that can be done in the camp as well which will help the younger players come up. We are moving forward slowly.
Can you elaborate and share some of his advice?
He talked about how to help younger players everyone. They are here because they have performed so you have to only mentally groom them for how get better. When a association is providing you with all the facilities, like ours is, but if we are not able to perform after that than we are ourselves the reason. He stressed on – why we aren’t able to do (perform) after that, it is something each one has to think about individually. We had a lot of discussions along these lines. He also said if you are talking one-on-one or if you are looking to address a tough situation and therefore talking to the player and making him understand what he can do; you have to execute, it not just think it. Execution of plans matter. The more you try to execute the plans and pay attention to the process the more your team will benefit.
What has been the influence of Virender Sehwag, who captained the team in 2015-16?
Playing with Viru paaji means he makes everything so simple for you, that it feels you have to just go out there and do it. When you are with him everything seems easy. Of course while going and executing this aren’t always perfect but when you take that confidence with you while going in then there is a 70 percent chance that you will do fine. So it’s the same thing, having played with him has helped everyone confidence. We keep talking. He keeps asking about the team. He is happy with the way the team is performing. We are in regular touch with him and will continue to do so. I talk to him and take whatever help and advise I can take from him and will keep doing that.
You have spoken about Anirudh sir’s conversations with the team. What has been his message?
He has a lot of confidence in the team. He has had one-on-one sessions with everyone and given players confidence that we are good; and we are playing at this level because we are good. Sometimes what happens is that, the player himself doubts whether he is prepared or not, there are lot of things like (which goes through the players mind even when) others feel confident (about him). Sometimes the coach, captain etc think that you are a champion player and you can perform, but the player might think that there is an added pressure on him. There are roles clearly assigned since way before we started (the season and) that has helped. Even when they go for net sessions they are aware what they have to do or not do. Having clarity of roles has benefitted the team.
How has it helped to have seniors in the side as well?
I feel every senior plays a role in building a team. It is not like all the pressure is on me and only I have to handle everything. Sometimes I don’t even realize when Jogi bhai (Joginder Sharma), or Harshal (Patel) or Rajat (Paliwal) or Nitin have set the field. It has been three matches now and things work out as people know and do what they have to. There isn’t too much pressure on me; having seniors has helped me a lot.
There are proper batsmen, bowler and all those meetings and discussions. Everything is according to a plan.
How do you reflect on the performance and wins so far?
The workload is divided very well. The burden is not on just one or two players to carry the team through. Our top six batsmen have all contributed and the same is with bowling. When one is in good rhythm the other supports and plays a complementary role and that has helped with the results.
