Rohit Sharma needs to captain India if Virat Kohli isn’t there, reckons Michael Clarke

Former Australian cricketer Michael Clarke reckons that Rohit Sharma is the ideal candidate to lead the Indian team across formats in the absence of Virat Kohli. On a number of instances, Rohit has stood in for Virat and even won the 2018 Nidahas Trophy and the Asia Cup in the same year. Clarke was clear cut in saying that he would have appointed Rohit as skipper for the Australia Tests.

Rohit, with his leadership skills, has helped Mumbai Indians turn their fortunes around in the Indian Premier League. The 33-year-old has guided the IPL franchise to their fifth title in eight years and Clarke, the 2015 World Cup-winning skipper, praised him.

“If I was picking the Indian team before they came to Australia and knew that Virat was going to go home after the first Test, I would have picked Rohit Sharma. 100 per cent. Because I think he needs to captain India if Virat Kohli is not there. His captaincy and leadership is outstanding.

“Once again, he showed that during the IPL and another IPL win, he knows how to lead men. I think he should be captain of India in any format if Virat Kohli is not there,” Michael Clarke told India Today.

I would have done everything in powers to get Rohit Sharma fit, says Clarke

“That being the case, I would have done everything in powers to get Rohit Sharma fit and have him bat at No. 6. Once Virat goes, he takes over the leadership,” Clarke stated. Rohit won’t be a part of the first two Tests and a call on him for the remaining two matches will be taken midway in December.

Virat won’t be there after India’s opening Test, starting December 17 at the Adelaide Oval. The 32-year-old has taken paternity leave to be with his pregnant wife Anushka Sharma, who’s due to give birth in the month of January.

In Kohli’s absence, Ajinkya Rahane would be in charge of the Test team. Clarke didn’t forget to praise him for being ‘tactical’. “I love Jinx (Rahane) too. He is a great player. His captaincy is pretty good. Tactically, he is a very good captain and it’s going to be good for India,” he added.