Ind vs SL: Rohit Sharma elated with his Test comeback

Indian opener Rohit Sharma on 27 November said that he is happy to be back on his feet playing cricket all again as he marks his return to the Test cricket with a blistering century against Sri Lanka in the second Test at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Nagpur.

The 30-year-old, who was playing his first Test match in more than a year after recovering from a career-threatening injury, smashed his third century (102) in Test--first ton in more than four years-- as India clinched a massive win by an innings and 239 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the three-match series.

And Rohit admitted that he was waiting for this opportunity and, therefore, is happy to put good runs on board for his team as well as for himself on his comeback.

"Personally for me, it was very important. Nearly 500 days, since I played my last Test match. I have been waiting for this opportunity and I am glad that I could put some runs on the board for myself and the team. Really happy that it was worth waiting for so long. I clearly remember this was the ground where I got injured and I had to wait three years to make my Test debut. This ground has now given me something now to go back with. Very happy and pleased with the way we played," he told the reporters following the win.

Rohit's Test career was appearing to reach greater heights last year when he notched up a half-century in each of the three Tests against New Zealand. However, a thigh injury forced him to miss the rest of international home season.

When asked whether 22 Test matches in an international career spanning 10 years did justice to the talent he possesses, the opener said that he has no regrets in life and is glad to be back on his feet, playing and scoring some runs.

"There will always be regrets in your life. Even if you score 10,000 runs, you will feel, "oh, I should have scored 15,000 runs". Or people will tell you, "you should have scored 15,000 runs, man. So that's what it is. That's what this world is and that's what we're living in," he said.

He added, "But for me I'm glad that I'm back on my feet, because when I went through that injury (last year), at one point I was thinking whether I'll be able to walk or not, because the injury was very bad. I'm lucky that I'm on my feet, playing and scoring some runs, so yes, I'm happy. I'm not someone who will think about what has happened in the past. I like to see what is in front of me, and that is how I look at it."

Rohit might have notched up a century on his Test comeback, but he is not guaranteed a place in the Playing XI.

However, the opener chosen to handle it with maturity and said that he has decided not to think too much about the selection and focus on playing his absolute best.

"My plans are simple and clear. I don't want to complicate things, which I have done in the past.When I was inexperienced, when I just came into the team, there were a lot of things that I used to think about, but not anymore. I've passed that age and I shouldn't be thinking what happened in the past. I should be ready for what is coming next, because that's what matters. What has happened in the past is gone - you can never change it. For me, I can change things looking forward, and looking forward means the Delhi Test match and thereafter the one-day series and then the South Africa series," he said.

Resuming from 21-1 in their second innings, Sri Lanka's batters were mercilessly cut down by Indian bowlers. The visitors could only score 166 in their second innings and hand the Virat Kohli-led side their joint biggest victory in a Test match.

The Lankans collapsed to 107-8 before skipper Dinesh Chandimal provided his side with some sort of a fight back with his 61-run knock. The damage was done in the pre-lunch session.

Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers for India, finishing with figures of four for 63 in the second innings to become the quickest to reach 300 Test wickets.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja bagged two wickets for 28, while fast bowlers Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma chipped in with two wickets each.

Earlier, Kohli (213) also scored his 19th Test century as the captain and then added yet another record to his decorated cricket book by slamming the fifth double hundred of his career.

Meanwhile, Murali Vijay (128) and Cheteshwar Pujara (143) also smashed scorching centuries to help India post a mammoth first innings total of 610 for six declared.

India will now aim to clinch the series when they take on Lanka in the third and final match at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi. 

-AN