Fit again after undergoing surgery on his thigh muscle that kept him out of cricket for five months, Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma said he was keen to get back on the field now.

“It feels a long time, actually more than five months. I am looking forward to getting back on to the field. I missed a lot of games, but it’s part of any sportsman’s career when injury happens. I am not looking backwards and want to start the season on a high,” said Sharma at a press conference.

He conceded that he feared the worst when he heard a loud pop while taking a single in the ODI match against New Zealand at Vishakapatnam. Sharma missed the entire series against England and against Australia.

“To be honest I was scared; it’s something that had never happened. I heard a loud noise when taking the run. I got the MRI done but once days passed by we contacted a lot of doctors and spoke to (Indian team physio) Patrick Farhart as well. They all gave me confidence that it’s not a major problem and was a small injury. I went through it quite comfortably,” Sharma explained.

However, he did not agree that the injury was a setback to his career, “I am just 29. Five months missing cricket does not do any bad. These things will happen in future too. In your career you will miss games. It has happened before and now it does not come as a surprise. It’s important for me to stay strong and focus ahead. I am looking forward and there’s so much cricket coming up,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.

‘Tough time’

The Mumbai-born batsman said it was tough to sit out during his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. “It was tough sitting in the hotel room and watching the team play. Yes, you have to go through it and I have done it many times. I was focusing on how quickly I could get on the field. I give a lot of credit to NCA staff.

“When you have a big injury you tend to lose muscle strength. It was a big challenge to get it back and become lot stronger. Thankfully I am back on field and ready to play again,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sharma was upbeat about his IPL team Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack this season, comprising of Lasith Malinga, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell McClenaghan and India’s limited-overs specialist Jasprit Bumrah.

“We might surprise a team or two with the kind of bowling attack. It’s a long tournament and we can’t think too far ahead. We have to break it into parts. We play five games in first 18 days here and I see it as an advantage,” Sharma, who took over captaincy duties from Australia legend Ricky Ponting after six games in 2013, said.

He conceded that in 2016 the team was not consistent enough to go all the way to retain the title which they had won for the second time in 2015.

“Last year we were not consistent enough. It’s a fast-paced tournament and we play every second or third day. We have to break into parts. We want to start well. Our first opposition is Pune and they have a pretty exciting squad with some new faces,” he said.

‘Did not adapt to conditions at Vizag’

However, he did not find excuses for last year’s poor show that was prompted, in a way, by the shifting of Mumbai’s home matches from the Wankhede Stadium to Vishakapatnam after a court verdict.

“The shift came at the last moment and the pitches at Vizag definitely did not suit our game. Having said that it’s not an excuse. We did not get adjusted to conditions quicker. Whatever the ground, you have to play as a unit. It’s no excuse for not qualifying [for the play offs].

“It was a learning curve and we know now what to expect, if a game or two get shifted, you have to be ready to perform if you are a champion side.”

He expects the Wankhede pitches this year to have a consistent bounce although they would get slower as the tournament progresses.

“Anything you do at the Wankhede the bounce will be consistent, but as the tournament goes on the pitches become slower and slower, not only at Wankhede but all over India, as it’s peak summer.”

Sharma was also happy to work with new coach and former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene who has taken over from Ponting.

“Mahela and [bowling coach] Shane Bond [of New Zealand] are working on their [Rising Pune Supergiant] line up. When we go on field we are not short on information.

“I am looking forward to work with Mahela who I have seen from the other side. He’s a legend. I am counting on his experience and knowledge. He will be able to guide us if we are in trouble.”

Mumbai Indians’ first game of IPL 10 is against Rising Pune Supergiant on April 6.