We will bounce back strongly - Rohit Sharma

Indian batsman Rohit Sharma was confident that the loss in the first Twenty20 International against South Africa in Dharamsala will only motivate the team to come back strongly in the ongoing series.

India scored 199 runs in their quota of 20 overs, but a lacklustre bowling effort saw South Africa win the game by seven wickets.

The Indian innings were largely aided by Rohit’s maiden T20I century, but the 28-year-old feels that personal achievements don't matter when the team fails to win.

"It was a good knock but we lost the game.

“I am pretty disappointed, it was unfortunate.

“No matter how much you scored, if you don't win, your efforts are not counted, nothing really matters to me.

“I'm sure we will come back strong.” 

Rohit is also certain that the Indian players will learn from the mistakes from the first game and improve their performances in the remainder of the series.

“Overall, there's room for improvement and I'm sure the guys have learnt from it and they will come back stronger.

“We have to do a lot of things right whether it's batting or bowling, and come out all guns blazing.”

The conditions in Dharamsala were difficult for the bowlers, especially in the second innings with the dew making it tough for them to grip the ball.

Rohit opined that despite the green pitch that aided the seamers, the dew factor played a spoilsport for India.

"There was a little bit of grass covering on the wicket and we thought there would be a bit of more seam movement but the dew took it away.

“I know they're not too experienced but it's the same with the South African attack.

“But when you play these kind of tournaments, you grow as a cricketer.”

In the Test format, Rohit enjoyed a superlative debut in 2013 by scoring two consecutive hundreds, but has failed to reach the three figure mark since then.

Rohit’s fortunes in the One-Day International format turned for the better ever since he was promoted to open the batting.

From 54 games as an opener, Rohit has 2345 runs at an average of 48.85 with five hundreds and 14 fifties to his credit.

Rohit disclosed that his focus is always to contribute to the team by scoring runs irrespective of which format he plays.

"It's the same effort I put in all the three formats, whether it's Tests, ODIs or T20Is.

“It's always the same mindset, about going and scoring runs and making the contribution.

“There's always been an effort to put the right foot forward and get the best what I can.

“I actually cannot differentiate between Test and limited overs.

“My mindset is always the same and will always remain the same, which is to go and score runs and make your team win.”

With the hundred in the first T20I against South Africa on Friday, Rohit become the second Indian cricketer to hit a century in every format of the game.

© Cricket World 2015