MS Dhoni had a charismatic presence; Kohli exuded intense passion; Rohit, in the mold of Jayawardene, remains cool, analytical, self-aware, and tactical, blending pre-game strategies with on-field instinct.
“I didn’t catch which shot that was. Was it over covers?” Rohit Sharma inquired, looking at the newly unveiled monumental Sachin Tendulkar statue overseeing the Indian team’s training at the Wankhede stadium from the cow corner. “No, Rohit, it’s a lofted straight drive,” someone from the press corps informed.
“Ah, I see. If it’s a straight lofted shot there, then it’s there! What more can I say? Hope you all enjoy it!” True to his style, he once again brought the house down, just a day before the game against Sri Lanka, where everyone is certain of India’s overwhelming favoritism.
Rohit possesses a unique ability to defuse any serious situation and carries an air of effortless ease that makes it hard to believe he is the captain of the Indian cricket team, especially during a high-pressure World Cup campaign in India. It’s tempting to assume that this sense of stress-free ease would extend to the team, given their dominance on the field, but that remains to be seen.
He also has the self-awareness to deflate any heroic narratives about his captaincy. When asked to elaborate on his leadership skills and World Cup journey, he smiled and said, “I know how this game is played. If we lose one or two matches, I’ll be labeled a bad captain! So, I don’t dwell on that.”
Similar questions were posed during an interview before the tournament, concerning the pressures of captaincy and their impact on his prized sleep. Again, he responded with a smile, “Nothing disturbs my sleep. Sleep is my favorite thing, no matter the situation or circumstances!”
Not Without Concerns
However, it doesn’t mean he had no concerns leading up to the tournament. When discussing the No. 4 spot, he expressed faith in Shreyas Iyer and shifted his worry to the batting from No. 8 onwards.
“This No. 8 position, that’s what we should talk about, rather than No. 4. We have a big problem there at No. 8. No one has been consistent at that position. You can’t rely on your batting lineup ending at No. 7,” he emphasized. He recalled a recent incident when India lost the first T20I against the West Indies because they needed 10 runs in 6 balls. He highlighted Pakistan’s ability to score 11 runs in 6 balls against Afghanistan, pointing out the importance of depth in the lower order.
At that time, R Ashwin hadn’t been included in the squad, and Axar Patel was a part of the team. “We need to build that depth, and I’m working on it. That’s why, if you have specialist spinners who can’t bat, it’s a problem. You can have one spinner who can’t bat, but not 2-3. That’s why we picked three all-rounders; we need to create that depth. We have to keep improving,” he explained.
Not long after that conversation, he reconsidered and included Ashwin after Axar’s injury. The concern about lower-order batting remains a topic of discussion among the team management, which is why they initially persisted with Shardul Thakur until an injury to their key all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, forced them to bring in Mohammad Shami.
Thorough Preparation
Rohit’s nonchalant demeanor doesn’t translate into a lack of preparation. He is a captain who meticulously prepares, watches numerous matches, and strategizes for potential matchups. If there’s any criticism, it’s mostly related to his team selections, which he acknowledges without naming specific players. “In the five Test matches we won, we made a lot of mistakes. I made mistakes. We didn’t select the right players. I made tactical errors in both Test and white-ball cricket. I should have used certain bowlers for a couple of overs more in a spell,” he admitted.
His fascination with cricket tactics didn’t develop when he became a captain; it’s been a part of his life since childhood. Rohit is a rare cricket enthusiast in modern-day cricket, spending most of his time watching games from around the world, starting from his early years. Raised by his grandfather, who was concerned about his parents’ financial situation, he grew up in a cricket-centric household, where watching games was a 24/7 affair.
“We used to watch games together non-stop. There was no room for anything else, no news or movies. We watched highlights and live matches. My uncles were renowned for tennis-ball cricket in the neighborhood, and when we weren’t playing, we were watching cricket. Nothing else caught our attention. It was cricket 24/7. My uncles discussed strategies and tactics, and I absorbed it all,” he recalled. When he became the IPL captain, he learned a lot about preparation from coach Ricky Ponting.
It’s this nonchalant attitude that complements his intense preparation and strategic thinking. He maintains a natural ease that prevents stress from getting the better of him, setting him apart from some of India’s previous captains.
MS Dhoni, especially as he grew older and relinquished Test captaincy, had an aura of control and composure. He had an impeccable understanding of the game on the field, which his team absorbed. Off the field, he was hands-off, leaving the cricket decisions to the coach, Stephen Fleming. In recent IPL seasons, Dhoni projected a regal demeanor, and his younger teammates appeared content under his benevolent leadership.
Virat Kohli, on the other hand, exuded intense passion and sought to motivate his team through his fierce competitive spirit. More than tactical acumen, it was his personal intensity that set him apart. His opponents could feel it, as South African Test captain Dean Elgar once noted. Rohit, in contrast, remains calm and tactically astute, similar to Sri Lanka’s captain Mahela Jayawardene, who balanced pre-game plans with on-field intuition.
Rohit may be expressive, encouraging, and assertive, but he lacks the in-your-face intensity of Kohli. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to leading a team, and Rohit is crafting his own unique path, which has proven successful in this World Cup.
If India falters in the knockout stage, it’s less likely due to his on-field captaincy and more likely related to selection choices and team composition. He recognizes past errors and will soon demonstrate whether he can avoid them in this World Cup.
#Cricket World Cup #Indian Cricket Team #MS Dhoni #ODI World Cup 2023 #Rohit Sharma #Virat Kohli
