Former wicket-keeper batter Kamran Akmal feels Rohit Sharma needs to show improvement in his leadership during the upcoming tour of the West Indies. Rohit Sharma is all set to lead India in two Test matches, three ODIs and five T20Is. The series kicks off on July 12 with the first Test at Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica.
Speaking on his Youtube channel, Kamran Akmal expressed that the Indian skipper’s presence on the ground should be like Virat Kohli when the latter was leading the team. He added that Rohit Sharma will have to improve his captaincy in the red-ball format. Ahead of the West Indies Test series, Kamran Akmal said,
“India will have to play well in both Test matches against West Indies. There has to be a lot of passion. It will be important for them to start well. Rohit Sharma will have to improve. His presence on the ground should be like Virat Kohli.”
Kamran Akmal showered praise on Virat Kohli, calling him an “all-time great”. He added that the veteran cricketer is an automatic selection in India’s playing XI for the West Indies Test series. He said,
“Virat Kohli is an all-time great. He is a brilliant performer. His hunger, his on-field presence, everything is top-class. He is the favorite player of all the players. A lot of cricketers get to learn a lot from his approach and performances. He is an automatic selection.”
This was the best chance to bring Sarfaraz Khan: Kamran Akmal
Kamran Akmal further spoke about Sarfaraz Khan’s exclusion from India’s squad for the two-match Test series against West Indies. The Mumbai batter has been very consistent in domestic cricket over the last few years. He has scored 3505 runs in 37 first-class matches, at an average of 79.65. Sarfaraz has 13 centuries with 301* as his highest score. However, he hasn’t gotten an opportunity yet for Team India.
“From what I have seen, Sarfaraz Khan has performed very well in domestic cricket. While I don’t think he should have featured in the playing XI, he should have been added to the squad. It would have been a signal to him that he wasn’t being ignored. This was the best chance to bring him in,” said Kamran Akmal.
