Rohit Sharma reveals why he likes playing fast bowling

Rohit Sharma has revealed that he enjoys facing fast bowling, attributing the preference to the years he spent playing cricket on concrete pitches and AstroTurf during his childhood. The India batter made the disclosure during an appearance on 'Family Full House with Rohit Sharma', a family entertainment game show airing on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.

The show, which is based on the globally successful Family Feud format and produced by Fremantle, premiered on September 19, 2026. It airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 PM IST and recorded the biggest-ever launch day for a non-fiction property on Sony LIV, also trending at number one worldwide on X through Saturday evening of its premiere weekend.

What did Rohit Sharma say about playing fast bowling?

Rohit responded by first addressing the common perception that top batters have plenty of time to play their shots. He clarified that the reality is quite different.

"Technically main bhi bataunga. Log bolte hain aksar, aapne suna hoga commentary mein ki iske paas bahut time hai ye shot maarne ke liye, woh shot maarne ke liye. Lekin main bata raha hoon, utna time nahi hota hai (I'll explain technically as well. People often say, and you would have heard on commentary that he has a lot of time to play that shot. But I am telling you, we don't have much time), Rohit said on the Family Full House show.

He then explained how his childhood shaped his comfort against pace. Growing up playing on concrete pitches and AstroTurf, Rohit said the ball would arrive quickly and would not swing much, which made him comfortable against pace but left him less at ease against swing bowling. In his own words:

"Kyunki mera bachpan poora nikla tha concrete ke pitches aur AstroTurf pe khel kar. Toh wahan par kya hota hai, wahan par ball bilkul tez aata hai aur ball wahan par zyada swing nahi karta hai. Toh isi liye swing mein mujhe thoda dikkat hoti hai. Lekin uske alawa jab koi ball tez daalta hai, toh mujhe tez bowling pasand hai khelna (Because my entire childhood went in playing on concrete and AstroTurf pitches, where the ball comes on fast and does not swing much. Because of that I have difficulties with swing bowling, but whenever someone bowls fast, I love playing it)," Rohit said.

How does Rohit Sharma decide where to play his shots against pace?

When Bedi followed up by asking how Rohit decides where to direct his shots, Rohit explained that years of playing cricket have made the process instinctive rather than a conscious calculation. He said the decision is no longer something he thinks through deliberately in the moment.

"Woh aadat ho gaya hai abhi, khel khel ke. Instinct pe zyada chalta hai humara. Haan, aur kuch bowlers hain duniya mein jinko mujhe ek hi jagah pe maarna pasand hai (it has become a habit now, after playing for so long. I base my game on instinct, but there are some bowlers who I like to target in a specific area)," Rohit added.

The conversation offered a candid look at how Rohit's formative years on non-grass surfaces directly influenced the batting instincts he relies on at the highest level.