After the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup, India’s cricket squad is expected to undergo a major shake-up, with skipper Virat Kohli poised to step down from his role in the shortest format. Rohit Sharma, Kohli’s present deputy, has indeed been tipped as the best option to succeed him.
Rohit, who is 34 years old, has a wealth of expertise, particularly in white-ball cricket. As the captain of the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, the leadoff batsman has won five titles (IPL). Not only that, but Rohit also led India to victory in the Nidahas Trophy tri-series and the Asia Cup 2018.
Though Rohit’s nomination as India’s T20 captain isn’t anticipated to be confirmed until after the T20 World Cup, the Hitman has expressed his thoughts on the responsibilities of a captain with supporters and analysts of the game in several instances. Rohit has previously termed the skipper as the ‘least important guy in a team’ during an interview with the news agency PTI.
“I believe that as captain, you are the least important person on the board. Others take on greater significance in the grand scheme of things. It works differently for different leaders, but in my case, this theory works for me,” he had stated.
In contrast to Kohli, Rohit is a more composed individual who displays little anger on the field. It isn’t a conscious effort for the Hitman, but rather a natural thing.
“It is not a deliberate decision to avoid expressing anger. That’s a natural instinct you have, and you don’t strive to pretend to be someone you’re not. Always strive to be yourself. You become irritated and lose your cool from time to time, but it’s critical that you don’t show it to your teammates. The most important element is to keep your emotions hidden,” Rohit had stated previously.
Rohit had also mentioned how important it is to make young members of the team feel at ease in order to get the most out of them.
“You don’t inherit characteristics; you learn to be a good human being. As a kid, I went through a lot of situations that made me feel uneasy. When things aren’t going well and no one comes to talk to you, you need somebody to motivate you. I wouldn’t say I had a lot of it. So I understand where these individuals are coming from and what their current circumstance is. All I have to do now is make them feel at ease.”
“I am not a stalwart enough to wrap my arms around them. It’s just that I understand how motivating or supportive a colleague or companion can be. Someone can be having a difficult day, and all they need is a pat on the back or an arm around the neck to tell them not to worry about it,” he had remarked.
Despite the fact that Rohit is still a few months away from taking over the captaincy from Kohli, he is the clear favorite for the role. In the shortest format, it will be intriguing to watch who the BCCI chooses as his vice-captain.
