McGrath's snub charged up Sharma

Johannesburg: Rohit Sharma, the Deccan Chargers' powerhouse in the middle order, confesses that a snub by Glenn McGrath fired him up to put his best foot forward in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) here.

Deccan Chargers had just been routed by six wickets by Delhi Daredevils in the initial stages of IPL when Sharma bumped into McGrath in the lift on the way up to his hotel room at Centurion. McGrath cast a dismissive look at the young Indian batsman and said "With so much of talent at your command ... you are a waste of time."

Sharma, who has grown up idolising the legendary Australian fast bowler, had just contributed 17 runs and bowled a solitary over for 10 runs in a humiliating loss to Dardevils and thus was suitably stung.

"It shook me out of my stupor. I decided then and there that I would prove him wrong in the IPL."

Sharma indeed has been the success story of this IPL. He has scored 321 runs and slammed 17 sixes, the fourth best of all.

He has also has been a revelation as a bowler: his off-breaks have fetched him a hat-trick and he has snared 11 wickets with the best figures of 4 for 6.

His performance has been better than accomplished tweakers such as Muttiah Muralitharan, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra and Piyush Chawla.

On a broader note, Sharma says he can't be thankful enough to fellow Mumbaikar and batting legend Sachin Tendulkar. He credits Tendulkar for teaching him some nuances of batting. "Above all he has taught me how to read a bowler's mind."

Among other advice, Tendulkar has taught Sharma how to stand a bit more erect while facing up to fast bowlers on bouncier wickets.

Sharma was initially confused as to whether employ pulls and hooks to short-pitched deliveries. Tendulkar asked him to go for it as there is no other way to counter short deliveries on quick wickets.

Tendulkar has also adviced Sharma to keep a slightly two-eyed stance against left-arm pacemen as it would stop his head from falling.