3 Reasons why Rohit Sharma is a genius T20 captain

Rohit Sharma the batsman requires no introduction. With excellent performances across formats, he has proven the quality he possesses. However, while he leads the Indian team only in captain Virat Kohli’s absence he is regarded as one of the best modern-day leaders. His IPL record of leading the Mumbai Indians to title victories in four out of the seven seasons he has led them in, acts as a testimony to this belief.

The ‘Hitman’, who is known for his big shots, is a very calm character on the field. You can never look at him and know what is going on in his mind. It’s often said that the silent ones are the most dangerous people. Well, the Mumbai lad surely fits well with this statement. There is a constant thoughtfulness behind his silence and he is always a step ahead of his opponents.

Let’s look at what Rohit Sharma, the captain, brings to the table:

1. Backing his players till the very end

Mumbai Indians have often been known as slow starters in the Indian Premier League. They have hardly ever done well in the initial matches of the cash-rich league. While many captains may have got rattled due to this, the Indian opener did not lose his cool. He gave his players the confidence and backed them to come good later in the tournament. Over the years, Mumbai have also improved their record in the first half as they won 6 out of their first 7 games in 2017 and 4 out of 7 in the 2019 edition.

In the 2015 season, the Mumbai franchise had lost 5 out of their first 6 matches. Many reckoned that there was no way they could qualify for the playoffs. It was said that the Rohit led side would have to get in some major changes to even stand a chance.

But the quality of a great leader is to understand his players and known when they could deliver for the team. He did not make more than two or three changes and led his side to a successful championship win. He also became the first captain to win the man of the match award in the final.

While his Indian teammate Virat Kohli is known for his constant shuffling of the team, Hitman sticks with his players and the results are evident. With limited-overs cricket being a game of confidence, the captain’s backing can give a player the assurance to go ahead and play his natural game. This is when one’s complete potential is utilized and he turns into a great match-winner.

2. IPL 2017 Final – Tactical Brilliance

To be a successful captain one needs to be innovative and think two moves ahead of his counterpart. Rohit Sharma has definitely been successful in doing this, a prime example being the 2017 IPL final. The Mumbai Indians had scored only 129 runs in their 20 overs and everyone believed that they had definitely lost the championship. But quitters never win and winners never quit.

The Mumbai captain kept rotating his bowlers and kept the pressure on the Rising Pune Supergiant’s side. Even though a very low run rate was required, he did not let the game slip out of his team’s reach. It came down to a point where the Steve Smith-led team required 11 runs of the last over. This is where Rohit showed why he is regarded as one of the best captains.

Mitchell Johnson was bowling the last over. Off the first two deliveries, one was a boundary and the other was a wicket. It came down to 7 in 4 balls and a well set Smith was on strike. The Aussie batsman timed one sweetly which commentators at first called a six. To everyone’s surprise, Ambati Rayudu at sweeper cover completed the catch. No one had expected a fielder to be there, but that’s what excellent minds do, they go beyond what the normal can expect. The Mumbai franchise went on to win the match and the tournament by just 1 run.

3. Rohit Sharma vs Virat Kohli (Calmness vs Aggression)

Blessed with one of the best bowling attacks in the world, Kohli has attained most wins in Tests by any Indian captain. India were displaced as the number one side in the longest format in May 2020 for the first time since October 2016. There has been no doubt that as the Test captain he has helped the team reach new heights.

However, in limited-overs, the number three batsman is yet to win a major trophy for his country despite reaching the final and semi-final of Champions Trophy in 2017 and 2019 ICC World Cup respectively. Rohit, on the other hand, has led India to triumphs at 2018 Nidahas Trophy and Asia Cup in the absence of the greatest modern-day batsman while his IPL record as captain speaks for itself.

The debate of split captaincy in the Indian team has been going on for a while now. With the team having a busy schedule and players hardly getting time to rest, it is ideal to have different captain lead in different formats. While Kohli’s aggression has been beneficial in Test cricket, Rohit’s calmness can help India in the limited-overs ICC tournament knockouts. When you have a person with such potential why would you want to deny him that opportunity?