On Wednesday, Rohit Sharma gave the momentous news of his retirement from Test cricket. Famed as the ‘Hitman’ by his adoring fans, Rohit has indeed left an indelible impression on the world of cricket. As the captain, he stewarded the Mumbai Indians to five IPL trophies and then guided the Indian team in qualification for the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Rohit still holds the reins as captain for One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and he gave an insightful talk about leadership in a recent interview. “There are 11 players, and it’s important to use all 11 well and build confidence in them. If the player is not getting a chance, it will feel unfair to him. We know only 11 can be on the field at a given point, and the others might miss out,” he said.
He gave specific examples of players who did not get to play in crucial fixtures: “In the World Cup, Jaiswal and Sanju never got to play, and in the Champions Trophy, it was Rishabh who sat out.”
Rohit spoke of when he missed out on selection for the 2011 World Cup: “I was disappointed, but I couldn’t just sit back and sulk. I know what it feels like, so I try to support the guys who miss out.”
And, when asked whether he had ever thought that captaincy would be off-limits to him because he played with legends like M.S. Dhoni and Virat Kohli, he said, “Yes.” “Sometimes people lean towards younger captains, so I figured I might miss the chance. But I’m really thankful for my opportunity now. I know I can’t lead forever, so I want to make the most of it every moment I have.”
