Rohit Sharma scored five tons in the 12th edition of ICC Cricket World Cup, which is highest by any batsmen in a single edition of this marquee event. Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar attributed fellow Mumbai player’s consistency to his mindset.

Rohit Sharma scored his hundreds against South Africa, Bangladesh, Pakistan, England, and Sri Lanka, and is currently leading run-scorer in the tournament so far.

"Long time back, Kiran More who was the selector for U -19, had told me 'you have to look at this kid named Rohit Sharma. He has got a superb bat swing'," Tendulkar told Star Sports on Cricket Live.

"Every now and then I'm asked about what is so special about Rohit Sharma and I think it is his bat swing, which is as clear as a pendulum and not many guys have that," he said.

"I have heard he wanted to (be) bowler and then slowly because his coach asked him to focus on batting, he shifted to that and what he has achieved along the way is simply remarkable," said the batting great.

Sharma was yet to take the field with a bat in the semi-final against New Zealand on Wednesday, as the game was pushed to reserve day due to rain interruption. Eventually when he came to bat he was dismissed on an indigent score of 1, with India getting a terrible start in this knockout game, losing four wickets on a score of just 24 in first power play after Kiwis setting a total of 239 on the scoreboard.

Rohit broke former Sri Lankan skipper Kumara Sangakkara’s record of most centuries in a single World Cup edition. Sachin appreciated Rohit’s mindset while quoting an example of his stable knock against the Proteas.

"We spoke about how in the initial six years, he (Rohit) wasn’t able to do much, but then the last six years have been truly special for him," he said.

"Even after having so many people criticizing you and not appreciating you for your shot selection, he has been successful in transforming his detractors to followers. They love his batting and that has happened only because of his changed mindset," said Tendulkar.

Sachin again stressed that his consistency is due to his mindset.

"We have seen in the first match against South Africa, he wasn't able to find the center of the bat, but he did not give it away. He stood there and waited for his time to come and we all know what has followed that" he said.

"I think this is all because of his state of mind and his shot selection which has led him there. His consistency in this World Cup is because of his mindset," he added.

Sachin said Rohit’s mindset of playing every match as his first, is a great thing.

"I was watching his interview where he said that every time he walked out, he always told himself that, that is his first match. This I feel, is a great mindset," Tendulkar signed off.

(With Inputs from PTI)