Former India player Gautam Gambhir said that Team India’s Test captain, Rohit Sharma has just been copying Virat Kohli’s model. On February 19 in Delhi, India defeated Australia in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by a margin of six wickets.
After destroying Pat Cummins and company by an inning and 132 runs in the first game in Nagpur, the hosts lead the four-match series 2-0 going into the following Test in Indore. In response to a question on Rohit’s captaincy during a talk on Star Sports, Gautam Gambhir stated:
“Honestly, I have always believed that Rohit Sharma is an amazing captain, but there is not much difference between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, especially in this format. Virat Kohli started this template.”
“Virat Kohli has captained exceptionally well whenever he has captained this Test team and Rohit is probably following that template only. Honestly, Rohit has not created his own template. The way Virat Kohli managed Ashwin and Jadeja, it is absolutely identical captaincy,” he added.
Gambhir continued, “Rohit uses Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja differently depending on the situation, exactly like Kohli does.” He said that the Indian captain alternates between being offensive and defensive, setting in-and-out fields.
“The real challenge for Rohit Sharma will be when he goes to Australia, South Africa and England” – Gautam Gambhir
Gambhir believes Rohit’s biggest test as captain will be in unfamiliar surroundings abroad, noting:
“The real challenge for Rohit Sharma will be when he goes to Australia, South Africa and England because there were big challenges for Virat Kohli there. Virat Kohli has made this team – Mohammad Shami, Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar.”
“Virat Kohli was as successful. So I don’t see too much difference and I don’t even want to say who is a better captain in these conditions because Virat was an equally good captain as Rohit is now. Rohit’s challenge will be overseas.”
The four Tests Rohit has led India in thus far have all ended in victories. Rohit has yet to captain abroad. In the final two Tests against Australia, he will try to extend the winning streak and secure India’s place in the World Test Championship (WTC) championship game.
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