Rohit Sharma explains what a player would have to get in Indian Test team, says captaincy is 'quite draining'

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Rohit Sharma has made his ambition clear as India's Test team captain, saying that the team is looking for players who are not totally focussed on their personal goals.

The 36-year-old said that young players in India grow up watching numbers and are taught by their coaches to hit hundreds. Rohit Sharma said that players are being asked to focus more on the team goals.

He said building a team environment where players are not looking for their personal goals takes time. He said selectors have also been conveyed the message that players doing the assigned job for the team will be backed.

"It’s very basic. We want to win games, want to win championships, want to win overseas. Every championship you lose hurts. But I believe the process towards reaching the final is the most important thing," Rohit Sharma told JioCinema.

"We are in the process of creating such a good team, a good environment, and a culture within the group where people will not fear too much about their place, not their personal scores. That is what I want to bring in. It takes time. These guys have grown up looking at numbers, like I want to score a 100 today.

"But it will take time. All these boys are young. A lot of those guys have played in maidans and their coaches have always told them to go out and score a 100. The focus is always on that 100. But we are trying to keep the team’s goal first here. After that whatever happens, happens. We are there to back you.

"We have had clear conversations with the selectors that if the guy is doing the job for the team, we will back him. As simple as that. Because that player needs the freedom to go out there and execute what the team management is asking. Conversations have happened with the selectors quite clearly about this, so we’ll see how the next six months go for us," he added.

Captain is draining, but it's a huge honour: Rohit Sharma

Further, Rohit Sharma said that captaincy of the Indian cricket team was 'draining', but an honour at the same time. He said many stalwarts of the game have captained the Indian team, and featuring in the same list was an honour.

"It is quite draining. But that’s what you sign up for when you take the responsibility. When the opportunity came for me to lead the team, I was excited like everyone else would be. In the past 7-8 years, I’ve been part of that decision-making core group and vice-captain.

"When you are a vice-captain you know that you could be handed over the captaincy at any point. Plus, I also led in Virat’s absence a few times. But obviously it’s a huge honour to be captaining your country. Many stalwarts have captained the team, so to be alongside them, it’s a great honour, it’s a great privilege," Rohit Sharma said.

Rohit Sharma is currently leading the Indian team in the five-Test series against England. He recently became only the second Indian captain after MS Dhoni to draw a Test series in South Africa.