Great if Shikhar and I can match Sachin-Sourav pair, says Rohit Sharma

Comparisons with the legendary pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly are certainly flattering but Rohit Sharma feels his partnership with Shikhar Dhawan still has a long way to go before matching the iconic opening combination.

“Comparisons with India’s most successful opening pairing gives you immense satisfaction. Comparisons are a piece of joy. It would be great if I and Shikhar as opening pair can achieve the success that these two accomplished in their illustrious careers,” Rohit, who is going through a dream phase in his career, said.

“We are still not there but both of us would like to entertain the fans and win as many matches as they have won for India,” he said.

Both batsmen did well in the recent limited-overs series in Australia with Rohit bagging the man-of-the-series award in the ODIs despite India losing 1-4. It will be an understatement to say that he is going through a purple patch, but Rohit’s appetite for big scores has not satiated yet.

“This is not the best. Whatever I achieve, I would always tell myself that my best is yet to come. I have scored 441 runs in the ODI series in Australia. In the next big series, my target will be to score more than that. If I am satisfied with my past achievements, I will never be able to set higher benchmarks,” the 28-year-old said.

Ask him whether the T20 series win holds credit considering the quality of Australia’s bowling, Rohit replied: “I agree that their bowling attack is not same as it used to be but does one expect Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath to have played forever You can only score runs off the bowlers that you play against. Every win counts as that’s what you are supposed to do while playing for the country.”

But he was quick to point out that this win cannot be compared to the CB Series win of 2007-08. “The batting line-up comprised Hayden, Gilchrist, Ponting and Clarke. So that tournament win can’t be compared to this.”