I still see myself as a begineer :- Mohit sharma

India seamer Mohit Sharma has attributed his
success in the limited-overs format to
opportunities given by captain MS Dhoni while
he mentioned that he is still a beginner in
international cricket. Mohit, who has played 20
ODIs and four T20Is since making his
international debut in August 2013, has become
a regular in the Indian ODI and T20I squads, but
he views his position in the side differently.
"Actually I still see myself as a beginner. The
only big difference (since debut) has been that I
spend double time on my bowling and fitness.
When you finally get to play for India, then you
realise how tough it is keep doing well and
maintain your place in the team," Mohit told PTI ,
before leaving for Bangladesh for the three-
match ODI series.
Although he is not in the 'express league' of
Indian pacemen like Umesh Yadav and Varun
Aaron, Mohit's biggest strength is his accuracy,
which he has put to good use. When asked
about his evolution as a bowler, Mohit said he
has become a lot more knowledgeable as a
cricketer while he emphasised that he is still
learning the nuances of the game.
"I think am a lot wiser now. I am able to assess
the situation much faster than earlier times. I
have experienced major changes in my body as
well, the fitness has increased and because of
that and I have gained speed as well. Overall, I
feel much more knowledgeable about the game.
I am very much a beginner, but learning can't
stop even if you become a very big player. When
you enter international cricket, you instantly get
to know what to do at what time just by sitting
in the dressing room. Besides that, the pressure
situations teach you a lot."
"I may not be super quick, but I think I bowl at a
decent pace. I have been consistently hitting
135-140 kph and that's decent speed. And it not
just about pace for me. I focus on landing the
ball in the right areas and leave the rest to the
conditions. Having said that, I understand that I
need to improve my pace further," he added.
Mohit had decent success in the World Cup as
he was India's third highest wicket-taker with 13
wickets at an average of 24.15 and he also had
a good economy of 4.98. Luck had a big role in
Mohit being part of the Indian team as he was
roped in as a last-minute replacement for an
injured Ishant Sharma and Mohit had no qualms
in admitting that he was indeed fortunate to be
part of the Indian team for the tournament. The
26-year old also thanked Mahendra Singh Dhoni
for backing him and said Dhoni's constant
support had a big role in him becoming a
successful bowler.
"(I) really feel fortunate to be part of that squad
and whatever chances I have got so far, it has
been made possible by Mahi bhai (Dhoni).
Anyone who is new to international cricket
cannot do well without the support of his
captain. I feel lucky to be playing under him in
IPL and in the Indian team. The best part about
him is that he helps you out in all matters, on
and off the field," Mohit said.