Rohit Sharma Believes The New Zealand Series Helped Him Focus On His Game As He Aims To Break Back Into The Test Side

Rohit Sharma, the India batsman on the mend from thigh surgery this month, believes he was more focused during the Test series against New Zealand in October, in which he scored 238 runs at an average of 79.33 with three half-centuries.

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Rohit's 21-Test career - which began in startling manner in November 2013 with 177 and 111* against West Indies - remains a work in progress. In between those first two Tests and the start of the home series against New Zealand, he averaged 23.50 in 29 innings with four fifties.

Having revived his Test fortunes with scores of 35, 68*, 2, 82 and 51* against New Zealand, the ongoing five-Test series versus England would have provided Rohit a great chance to convert that promising run into a permanent place in the middle order. However, the 29-year-old suffered an injury to his right thigh during the last match of the five-ODI series against New Zealand in late October and underwent successful surgery in London earlier this month.

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On the recovery mend from the injury that is estimated to keep him away from cricket for 10 to 12 weeks, Rohit said he was more fine-tuned to his batting in Test during his last series.

"I can say that I was more focused on my batting this time and to provide contributions down the order that were very useful to the team was satisfying," he told TOI Sports during a Facebook interaction on Tuesday. "Every game you play is a learning curve because you learn something new from it, because each match throws up opportunities for you to learn something new about your game. You're always put under pressure in different situations, from which you have to react. In that regard, the last series was great for me, personally.

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"However, the fact that we won 3-0 was more important for me rather than my performances. Performances will keep happening and sometimes you won't do well, but what is important is that the team does well and remains at the top [of the ICC Test Championship]."

His place in the Test middle order has not been filled. R Ashwin was moved up in Rajkot and Visakhapatnam and produced scores of 70, 32, 58 and 7. In the Mohali Test, which India won on Tuesday for an unassailable 2-0 lead, the debutant Karun Nair was given a chance but made four before he was run out.

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The BCCI selectors have stuck to the same squad for the remaining two Tests, and Rohit should rightfully return to the squad when India play a one-off Test against Bangladesh in early February which is followed by four versus Australia.

"I was on the right path but unfortunately I got injured. That can happen at any time. I'm trying to look forward and hopefully I'll be back," said Rohit.