Rajkumar Sharma, Virat Kohli’s childhood coach believes newly appointed Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is likely to get the players of his choice if the Indian captain and head coach Rahul Dravid are on the same page.
Rohit Sharma will lead Team India in the upcoming limited-overs series against West Indies after having recovered from a hamstring injury. The Mumbaikar is also the frontrunner to be appointed the Indian Team’s Test skipper.
Rajkumar Sharma: It Becomes Easy If Rohit Sharma And Rahul Dravid Are On The Same Page
Rajkumar Sharma was asked whether the Indian team picked for the West Indies series suggests that Rohit Sharma has had a major say in the selection.
Rajkumar Sharma responded: “Every captain has his own choice and every captain desires to get the players he wants and generally that happens as well. It becomes easy if Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid are on the same page, if the captain and coach want a particular team, the selectors feel it right to give them that team. This should happen also and I feel that will happen as well.”
The former first-class cricketer Rajkumar Sharma was also asked about Rohit Sharma’s likelihood of being given Team India’s reins in Tests as well.
Rajkumar Sharma replied: “I don’t think there is any contender apart from Rohit Sharma because there is no other player whose place is certain in all three formats. So I believe he is the better choice and he has done excellent captaincy in the IPL and whenever he has got a chance for the Indian team. I have full expectation that he will take the Indian team to newer heights.”
KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin are some of the other candidates for Team India’s Test captaincy. Rohit Sharma, who was just named Team India’s white-ball captain, was unable to participate in the recently concluded bilateral series against South Africa, in which the Men in Blue suffered a humiliating defeat. Due to a hamstring injury, Rohit Sharma was ruled out of the South Africa tour.
The 3-0 ODI series drubbing in South Africa was a setback for Rahul Dravid, who was with the senior team in his first overseas coaching assignment. India next hosts West Indies for 3 ODIs and as many T20Is next month.
Reetinder Singh Sodhi Opens Up On Challenges Ahead For Rohit Sharma
Reetinder Singh Sodhi was asked about the challenges ahead for Rohit Sharma especially as the team isn’t doing much well after being eliminated from the 2021 T20I World Cup in the group stage and then losing both the Test and subsequent ODI series to rather inexperienced Proteas.
He responded: “It is definitely a challenge when you handle the captaincy of such a big side. You experience adverse situations and conditions, the team has not been doing that well, if we talk about our situation in the recent T20 World Cup.”
The former India all-rounder hopes the team management has strategies in place for the multiple upcoming ICC events like the 2022 T20I World Cup and 2023 ODI World Cup.
Reetinder Singh Sodhi observed: “Now the T20 World Cup, 50-over World Cup, World Test Championship – a lot of things are ahead. So Rohit and Rahul Dravid would be preparing a template or would have already done that and it is extremely necessary because we have not done that well in ICC championships.”
Reetinder Singh Sodhi concluded by stating that Rohit Sharma could cement his place as skipper and enjoy an extended run if Team India does well in these global events.