What qualities set Rohit Sharma apart as Captain?
Rohit fits the Jayawardene template, calm and analytical, self-aware and tactical, a blend of pre-game preparations and on-field instinct. MS Dhoni exuded an aura, whereas Kohli exuded intensity.
“I was unaware of the type of photo it was. Covers, are they not? At the Wankhede stadium’s cow corner, Rohit Sharma asked about the recently unveiled, enormous Sachin Tendulkar monument that was aimed directly at the Indian players in training. “No, Rohit, it’s a straight drive with lofts,” a press pack member said.
“Oh! Alright. Wahan hai to hai ab straight lofted shot – if it’s a straight lofted shot there, it’s there! Kya bolun ab mein? (What am I supposed to say?) I hope everyone enjoys it! Usually, a day before the match versus Sri Lanka, where the overwhelming favourites are known, he brought the house down once more.
The fact that Rohit is the Indian captain during a highly competitive World Cup campaign in India is difficult to notice because of his special ability to deflate any occasion and his carefree demeanour.
It’s enticing to extrapolate that feeling and assume that stress-free ease would have penetrated the squad as well, especially given how they are dictating play on the pitch, but we won’t know that.
Furthermore, he is self-aware enough to dispel any myths surrounding his captaincy run. He grinned and responded, “I know how this game is played,” to a questioner who complimented his leadership abilities and asked him to describe the World Cup experience. If we lose one or two games, I’ll stop being a good captain! I therefore don’t consider all of that.
When we interviewed him for this newspaper prior to the competition, we asked similar questions about the demands of captaincy and whether it interferes with his much-loved sleep. That smile again. Nothing keeps me up at night. My favourite thing to do is sleep, in any circumstance or posture.
Not that he wasn’t concerned about a few matters before to the competition. As the conversation centred on the No. 4, he expressed his confidence in Shreyas Iyer and stated that he was more worried about the batting starting at No. 8.
“Instead of talking about number four, everyone should be talking about this eighth spot. There is a serious issue at No. 8. No one has visited number eight. He told this publication, “You can’t have your batting finish at number seven.” We lost the first Twenty20 international in the West Indies series because we had to score ten runs in six balls. In a recent match against Afghanistan, Pakistan scored 11 runs in just six balls to win (Naseem Shah’s cameo had sealed the victory).
At this time, Axar Patel was a member of the team while R Ashwin had not yet been called up. “I am attempting to create that depth, which is why it is a major issue if you have true spinners who are unable to bat. We need to create that depth.” One spinner who is unable to bat is acceptable, but two or more spinners are not. We chose three all-rounders because we need to establish that depth. We need to put forth effort to improve,” he remarked.
Soon after that conversation, when Axar got hurt, he would change his mind and bring in Ashwin. This team management is a little concerned about batting lower down, thus they first started with Shardul Thakur until they had to bring in Mohammad Shami due to an injury to their top all-rounder, Hardik Pandya.
This nonchalance does not imply any carelessness with the preparation. He is a captain who studies a lot of games, prepares in advance, and considers possible matchups. If he is to be criticised, it is more due to his selections rather than his on-field strategies.
He acknowledges that it is flawed without naming anyone. “We made a lot of mistakes in the five Test matches we won, including a lot of faults on my part. choosing the incorrect players. In Test and white-ball cricket, I have made numerous mistakes in terms of tactics as well. Like, I should have used a spell-like strategy and offered two extra overs.
He has always loved and fussed over cricket strategies; it didn’t start when he was a captain. He is a unique cricket tragedy in the current era of cricket, having watched games from throughout the globe most of his life. even in childhood. Rohit grew up at his grandfather’s house with uncles and aunts at his demand, as he believed his parents were struggling financially and would find it impossible to raise two children. A home where cricket was the way of life.
“We used to watch games all the time together. Nothing, not even news. Games and highlights used to be shown. In the neighbourhood, my uncles dominated tennis-ball cricket, and when we weren’t playing, we would only watch cricket. Nothing else, including films, piqued our interest. Every day, it was cricket. Uncles would discuss tactics and methods, and I think I absorbed it all. Additionally, he claims that coach Ricky Ponting taught him a lot about preparation when he was elected IPL captain.
But all of this energy in practising and thinking through the game is connected by that carefree, easygoing approach. He doesn’t let tension get to him because of his inherent ease. He differs from a few other captains India has experienced in that regard.
As he grew older and gave up his Test captaincy, MS Dhoni exuded a calm, collected demeanour and an unmatched sense of awareness of the game that his teammates started to emulate. He is hands off off the pitch and activates the cricket tap as soon as he steps onto the pitch. Stephen Fleming, the coach, handles off-field matters. Dhoni has been acting like a king lately in the IPL, and his youthful teammates behave like contented subjects of a kind king.
At his most focused, Virat Kohli was trying to lead his squad. His attempt to turn his abrasiveness into a strength made him stand out more than his tactical skill. The adversaries sensed it. This newspaper was once informed by South African Test captain Dean Elgar about his thoughts on captain Kohli. Virat is the one who fuels the spirit of competition. He is obviously attempting to alter the culture there and is quite competitive. They wanted to win, not simply play in the series. That was fantastic.
Rohit is at ease. His on-field tactics may be more akin to those of Sri Lanka’s captain Mahela Jayawardene, who was able to maintain momentum in the game by using a combination of pre-game planning and instinct. While Rohit lacks the aggressive energy of a Kohli, he can still be outspoken, persuasive, smile, and feel every pulsing moment of the match. There is no one perfect technique to lead a team; instead, every group requires a different strategy. This World Cup has been going really well for Rohit, who is doing what he does best.
Because of his on-field leadership, it would be quite unlikely if India faltered in the knockout stages. If that occurs, it might arise from the team’s makeup and selection processes. He is aware that in the past, he has failed to do that. We will find out pretty soon if he can escape it throughout this World Cup.
