Rohit Sharma is currently not part of the national T20I side and has taken a break from the ODI format for the series against South Africa. While fans hope for his return to white-ball cricket, there are discussions about his role as India’s captain. Despite not winning the ODI World Cup 2023, Rohit’s leadership during the campaign was commendable. However, it’s noted that since MS Dhoni, no other Indian captain has achieved ICC success. Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, offering insights into Rohit’s captaincy, describes the respect he holds in the dressing room.

“If you take a look at Indian cricket, everybody will be telling you that MS Dhoni is the best captain. (But), Rohit Sharma is an outstanding person, (and) he understands every single player in the team. He knows the likes and dislikes of each of us and has a great understanding. He puts in the effort to know each player personally,” Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.

In the ODI World Cup, Rohit Sharma consistently provided strong starts for India, even in the final match where Australia ultimately won. Despite discussions about Ashwin playing in the final, it didn’t happen. However, the experienced off-spinner was ready to support the team from the sidelines.

“As far as I playing the final is concerned, the team combination and all is secondary. Firstly, it’s about empathy, (and) I keep stressing it a lot. It’s like standing in someone else’s shoes and looking at things from his/her perspective. Had I been in Rohit’s shoes, I would have thought 100 times about altering the (winning) combination. It was going alright for the team, so why rest a fast bowler for three spinners?,” Ashwin explained.

“Honestly, I understood Rohit Sharma’s thought process. Playing the final is big, (and) I was preparing for three days in the lead-up. At the same time, I was also prepared to cheer for the side and run in with energy drinks if I was not given the opportunity. I was mentally prepared for that as well,” Ashwin concluded.