We'll get hit a bit less, says paceman Mohit on new rules

MUMBAI: He was dropped after going for 53 runs in 4.4 overs in the first ODI against Bangladesh at Dhaka, but make no mistake, Mohit Sharma, who took 13 wickets in eight games to emerge as one of India's bowling heroes in the World Cup earlier this year, has shown enough potential to be seen as a reliable medium-pacer for India in limited overs cricket.
Refreshingly, in an era where youngsters name star cricketers as their idols, this 26-year-old considers his senior Haryana pace bowling colleague, Joginder Sharma, who was India's surprise hero of the World Twenty20 triumph back in 2007, as his inspiration, though he claims that he learnt almost everything from skipper MS Dhoni. Excerpts from a media interaction with the CSK seamer, before he packed his bags for the Zimbabwe tour...
The Bangladesh tour must've been disappointing...
It's part and parcel of the game. You'll have bad and good days. As a team, we had a bad couple of days there.
What would you attribute your surprise success in the World Cup to?
During the Tri-series, I didn't know I would play in the World Cup. I used to speak a lot with Ishant (Sharma) and Bhuvi (Bhvneshwar Kumar) about how to bowl in Australia, and would hear them talk about the same. I learnt a lot by bowling at Perth during the Tri-series, since the length to bowl there, is the same in Australia everywhere. Mahi bhai also guided to me a lot. By the time I was in the WC team, I knew what length I had to bowl in Australia.
What have you learnt from Dhoni?
I learnt almost everything about cricket from him. For e.g., How to handle pressure, and how to handle any situation in a game.
Will new ODI rules offer respite to bowlers?
There are a lot of plus points for us in the new rules. We can have five fielders outside the circle in the last 10 overs, and there's no need to keep compulsive catching positions in the initial overs. Thoda kam mar khayenge, aur kya (We'll get hit a bit less).
Will the totals be lesser in ODI cricket?
Things will be a bit different now. However, the skills have developed so much that balls go in gaps in case of ground shots, and for sixes when they go in the air. Lekin han, thoda sukoon mila hai (we have got a bit of relief).
Does the free hit rule affect you?
When you practice from the beginning of the career, your coach tells you that you have to bowl from behind the line. If you don't bowl a no ball during practice, you won't do so in a match. It's a simple thing, so it is best to keep it simple. If you complicate it, it would keep getting complicated. You have to bowl from behind the line. Period. Even the no ball for a full toss rule, you can't be negative about it.
Who has been your idol?
I have always looked up to Jogi bhaiya (Joginder Sharma). I've copied him. We grew up watching his bowling. I wanted to play for Haryana and India like him.