Despite the challenges surrounding Rohit Sharma, it is more crucial than ever for the Indian cricket team to have him as captain for at least two more years in longer formats.
Rohit Sharma might have felt deeply alone climbing the long staircase at Motera Stadium on that disappointing Sunday night, exchanging handshakes as he went.
The emotional pain of the World Cup final loss was likely intense. Despite the sense of a world falling apart, the Indian cricket team currently needs Rohit Sharma as captain for at least two more years in longer formats.
After Rahul Dravid’s captaincy tenure concluded in 2007, Dhoni seamlessly stepped into the role. Similarly, when Dhoni left, there was already a succession plan in the form of Virat Kohli. Now, Rohit Sharma is poised to assume the mantle from Kohli.
In a team where the younger players are far from being ready for leadership roles, the selectors will be compelled to persist with Rohit.
Rohit Sharma holds the record for the highest score by a captain in a single edition of the World Cup
Listening to coach Rahul Dravid gives you insight into how deeply he was committed to his team, and perhaps that’s why every trace of emotion appeared to have been drained from him after Sunday’s disaster.
“He’s been an exceptional leader. Rohit’s really led this team fantastically. He’s given so much of his time and energy in the dressing room to the boys. He’s always been available for any of our conversations, any of our meetings,” Dravid said after the match.
“’Captain Sharma’ spoilt us in the last six weeks with his daredevil batting at top, the way he used his bowlers and for bringing a dash of humour every now and then during a tense campaign.”
“And just like his effortless pull-shots, Rohit never had to try being funny. He has that streak in him. And when you see him broken, somewhere a part of you also break.”
“He’s given a lot of his personal time, energy into this campaign. And he wanted to lead by example. Right through the tournament, he was quite superb in doing that. I just can’t speak more highly of him as a person and as a leader,” Dravid added.
Rohit is over 36, and by 2027, he’ll be 40 when South Africa hosts the next World Cup. The opportunity to win a 50-over World Cup, often considered the pinnacle of the sport, may have slipped away for him.
Rather than hurriedly finding a replacement, it’s important for Indian cricket to have Rohit Sharma lead the team for the next two crucial years before potentially going through another transition.
Due to his age, Rohit will need to choose the bilateral ODI series, especially those involving white-ball formats. In the post-COVID-19 era, Rohit Sharma has been India’s top batsman in Test cricket across various conditions, making him crucial for the team.
With the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle and ICC Champions Trophy ending in 2025, India requires Rohit as a leader and mentor until then.
This is especially non-negotiable as there’s no ready-made captain for ODIs and Tests. While Hardik Pandya is earmarked for T20 Internationals, his fitness and workload pose concerns for ODIs.
KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah are alternatives, but their captaincy experience is yet to mature, making Rohit’s leadership continuity vital for the team’s playing philosophy.
The BCCI and selection committee should allow him time to groom his successor.
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