India beat Sri Lanka by 141 in 2nd ODI

One such instance was the 43rd over when Rohit smashed Lakmal for four sixes off four legal balls in an over that went for 26 runs. "I would say this year has been the best year for me as a cricketer". That is only because, like I said, unless you make a mistake, you are not going to get out ... The future is bright.

Though Rohit ran amok in the death overs, he took time early on. "I wanted them to get me out". We never allowed the bowler to bowl six balls at one batsman. I know she would have liked this gift from me. I think we gave 50 runs too many. "I have been appointed captain for the first time, so I am only thinking about this series", he said.

After registering two centuries in his first two tests, against West Indies in 2013, Rohit's third test hundred only arrived last month against Sri Lanka in Nagpur.

After his Nagpur innings, Rohit said how much the century meant to him. It was a world record so obviously that has to be right up there. It is not that I score double-hundreds every day.

Sri Lanka claimed a shock victory in the first ODI after dismissing India for only 112, but stand-in captain Rohit made a magnificent 208 not out from 153 balls in a crushing 141-run victory which set up a decider in Delhi on Saturday.

"That is my style of play", Rohit said. "The first 100 took time but the next was one a lot faster". Sundar clean bowled Thirimanne who was trying to play a reverse sweep shot.

"So it was all about me not making a mistake and batting as long as possible. The thinking was why not get another 100 after the 100".

Batting gets easier, but that doesn't mean all that six-hitting is easy, insisted Rohit, who with 45 sixes in 2017 holds the India record for a calendar year. "Nothing is easy in cricket".

"Thanks to our trainer Basu he has been training really hard with all of us and my strength is timing the ball". It is not easy. I wanted to play out the overs. So that is the advantage of having five fielders inside. We became very predictable. By his own admission, he doesn't have the power of a MS Dhoni or Chris Gayle, so using his brain is more important while shot selection. I like to analyse the situation and conditions. If you see, the pattern has been similar in all three.

"I$3 started off slow, then picked up the pace and then in the end I accelerated. I have to use my brain to manipulate the field, and stick to my strength which is to hit through the lines". He is determined to change that this time. In England, the ball may swing a lot and in South Africa the ball may bounce a lot. "So I don't think I can rate any of my double-hundreds".