'This is the format where your captaincy skills are really tested'- Gavaskar applauds Rohit Sharma's prowess as T20I captain

In a series marked by highs and lows, Rohit Sharma found redemption in the final T20I against Afghanistan, showcasing true grit as a captain and a batter. The veteran opener struggled at the series start with a duck in Mohali and a golden duck in Indore, leaving fans questioning his form.

However, the Bengaluru match witnessed a remarkable turnaround. Leading from the front, Rohit, alongside Rinku Singh, guided India to an epic victory in a double Super Over thriller. Rohit's captain's knock not only rescued India from a batting collapse but also set a new record. His century at the Chinnaswamy Stadium marked his fifth T20I century, making him the most successful century-maker in T20Is, surpassing Suryakumar Yadav and Glenn Maxwell.

The win not only elevated Rohit to a stature matching MS Dhoni's 41 T20I victories but also earned him accolades for cricketing intelligence. Former cricketer Rohan Gavaskar, in admiration, said,

"This is the format where your captaincy skills are really tested. If he has a higher winning percentage than MS and Virat, that tells you what a good captain he is. What I really liked about this innings is that, generally you say in a T20I game now - the template is to go bang bang bang from the word go. And that is the template that is set. But both Rohit and Rinku used their cricketing intelligence at 22-4 and said no. We can get runs later on but let's just give ourselves a little bit of time," Gavaskar told Cricbuzz.

Adapting and adjusting your game based on cricketing intelligence is the key: Gavaskar

What stood out was the adaptability shown by Rohit and Rinku, debunking the T20I norm of an all-out attack from the word go. Gavaskar praised their ability to change the game plan, emphasising the importance of cricketing intelligence. 

"If we lose a wicket or two here, we'll be 70 all out. We're 90 all out. So let's give ourselves a little bit of time, we have the ability to make up for it as the innings progresses. And they did, last five overs - 100. But this is a one-off. Normally, you want your teams to play in a different template. But to have that cricketing intelligence and the skillset to adapt and adjust and change your game, to what needs to be done, that is key," Gavaskar added.