Rohit Sharma started his IPL Journey with Deccan Chargers (DC) under the leadership of Adam Gilchrist in 2008. While now the Mumbai Indians player is the most successful captain of the T20 league. Rohit’s former DC teammate VVS Laxman has opined that Rohit learnt the captaincy trait while playing for DC.
Rohit Sharma shifted his base from DC to MI in 2011. He was handed over the captaincy of the Mumbai-based franchise in 2013 after Ricky Ponting stepped down from the job in the midway of the tournament. In his debut as a captain, he led the team to their maiden IPL title victory. Since then, Mumbai became the most successful IPL team. And so far, under the captaincy of Rohit, MI has won four IPL titles, i.e., in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019.
VVS Laxman gives reasons behind Rohit’s success as a captain
Former Test cricketer has said that Rohit evolved in his journey with Deccan Chargers. Laxman said that DC didn’t do well in the inauguration edition, but Rohit was an outstanding player for them. Being a middle-order batsman for DC, he learnt to handle the pressure which later helped the right-hander to tackle tough situations in the middle.
“He became a leader in the Deccan Chargers team. When he came in the first year, he was a youngster who just played the T20 World Cup, made his international debut for India,” Laxman said.
“I think the way he was batting in the middle order, under pressure because the team didn’t do well in the inaugural IPL edition in 2008 … Rohit was a standout performer for us,” he added.
Rohit Sharma has evolved and blossomed: Laxman
As per Laxman, the hit-man gradually developed confidence and started voicing his opinion, which, according to Laxman, was the signs of Rohit evolving as a captain. But for the veteran, the quality that made Rohit a great captain was his character to handle the pressure.
“In each and every match, with each and every success, his confidence level was just growing, he was getting into the core group, helping the youngsters, voicing his opinion and those were early signs,” Laxman said.
“But for me, most importantly was handling the pressure because not once in those tough situations when he was batting did it show, and he has evolved and blossomed. That’s why he’s one of the most successful captains in IPL history,” the former batsman added.
In normal circumstances, Rohit Sharma would have been leading the Mumbai Indians to their fifth IPL title wins while the fans would have been witnessing his masterstrokes.