'It's about giving them that confidence...,' India skipper Rohit Sharma explains how he motivates players

Rohit Sharma recently opened up about Team India captaincy, adding tat he attempts to build confidence in his players and even has one-on-one conversations with players as well.

“It is probably the hardest job of the leader to get everyone to do what you want them to do. Because they come with a different mindset and they want to do what they want to do. That’s what we try and talk to everyone when they come in because it’s a team game and sport. What I try and do is give the players that freedom and importance….. that they are very important for me. It does not matter if you only play only 10 balls at No.6 aur No.7 …you are so important to me that you can win games. It’s just building the confidence within themselves. Because you need all 11 of them to give their best. You need everyone to contribute to the team’s cause,” Rohit said during a Leo1, Mastercard and NSDL event in Mumbai.

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“I try and go to players’ rooms individually and talk to them, have dinner. They look up to the leaders. If I am not available to talk and give time to them then there will be some discomfort around the team. The most important thing is to try and treat everyone equally and give everyone that importance. Give them role clarity that what is their role,” added Rohit.

“If they are having any thoughts about getting dropped that’s where my role comes in. Then I have to try and build the confidence. It’s about giving them that confidence and building that trust that no matter what my leader says I have to go and execute that. Those are the things that I try to focus on. It’s a tough job,” he continued.

When asked about playing the role of an opening batter in Tests, Rohit said that it was about the confidence that came from within. “I like to be put in a place where its slightly difficult conditions and situations. I always wanted to be challenged all the time. The hardest part is to start because you don’t know what the outcome will be. Confidence is something that you can’t take from anywhere it needs to come from within and that starts how I train before the game. If I want to play a certain shot in the first over, I have to practice that. I have to master that shot to gain confidence,” said Rohit.

Rohit is currently leading India in a five-match Test series against England. The series is level at 1-1, with the third Test to be played in Rajkot from 15 February.