Former India men's batting coach Vikram Rathour called Rohit Sharma an astute leader who, if nothing else, "always has a clear picture of his game plan" - something he never forgets, unlike other things like whether he opted to bat or bowl at the toss.
Since becoming full-time captain after Virat Kohli, Rohit has led India to titles in the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup and the 2023 Men's Asia Cup, while ending as runners-up in the 2023 ICC World Test Championship and ICC ODI World Cup.
"He may forget whether he has decided to bat or bowl at the toss, or his phone and iPad in the team bus, but he never forgets his gameplan. He was very good at it and he is a very shrewd tactician," Rathour said in an episode of the 'Find a Way with Taruwar Kohli' podcast.
He also recalled the strategic choices Rohit made during the T20 World Cup final against South Africa on June 29, where Rohit opted to finish Jasprit Bumrah's overs quickly, which actually turned out to be beneficial.
As a captain, he is tactically very good. The way he did in the T20 World Cup final, he finished Bumrah's over early. Lot of people must have had question against that decision, but that decision put us in the situation where 16 was needed in last over.
""His tactical decisions on the field are spot on. Sitting outside it surprises you as a coach as well. We from outside sometimes think what he is doing but then you realise what he has done after a while.""
Rathour who was also a senior men's selection committee member, confessed that he has not come across a captain as deeply invested in the game as Rohit.
"His first quality is that as a batsman he is a phenomenal player. I think he is someone who understands his game really well. He always has a clear game plan. Even as a leader, you will have to lead from the front. You have to perform to set the example. And since he has become the captain he has always led by example."
"He is a player's captain. He is invested with the players heavily. 'Kisi captain ko maine team meetings ya strategy mei itna involve hote nahi dekha' (I never found a captain so much involved in team meetings and strategies)".
"He invests a lot of time in the strategy of the team. He is part of the bowlers' meeting, batters meeting. He wants to sit with the bowlers and batters to try and understand what they are thinking. He invests a lot of time with the players," Rathour concluded.
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