Shruti Suman
Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian cricket team, faces a critical juncture in his leadership journey as India prepares for the challenging tasks of the upcoming Asia Cup and ODI World Cup. The absence of an ICC title for India in the past decade has led to frequent changes in leadership roles. Virat Kohli elevated the Indian team’s performance but couldn’t secure an ICC title during his captaincy. When the renowned Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar was asked about Rohit Sharma’s legacy as a skipper, he asserted that Rohit’s success would be measured by the number of championship trophies he manages to win.
Gavaskar remarked, “Ultimately, your legacy is determined by the quantity of trophies you have acquired and the number of victories you’ve achieved. If he triumphs in these two tournaments, Rohit Sharma will establish himself as one of the most exceptional captains for India.” Gavaskar’s statement was reported by Hindustan Times.
Additionally, Gavaskar provided his insights into the Indian team’s readiness for the upcoming World Cup. While many experts identify the conundrum of selecting a reliable No. 4 batsman as a significant issue in the One Day International (ODI) format, Gavaskar believes that the team’s shortage of all-rounders remains a significant concern.
“More than anything else, the factor of luck on the given day is highly crucial. If we examine the teams of 1983, 1985, and 2011, they all had exceptional all-rounders. There were batsmen who could bowl 7-8-9 overs and bowlers who could contribute as batters in the lower order. That was the major advantage of those teams. Even if we look at MS Dhoni’s team, players like Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virender Sehwag could all chip in with their bowling skills. It was a significant advantage. So, any team that possesses versatile all-rounders has the upper hand.”
Gavaskar highlighted England’s victory in the previous year’s T20 World Cup and pointed to their impressive array of all-round talents. He emphasized that all-rounders play a pivotal role in a team’s success.
The 1983 World Cup-winning cricketer also emphasized the role of luck in India’s quest for victory in the tournament. Drawing attention to the 2019 semi-final encounter against New Zealand, he opined that a bit of luck could have altered the outcome in favor of Virat Kohli’s team.
“Our team boasts remarkable talent, yet in knockout stages, a touch of luck is crucial on the day of the match. If we reflect on our past performances in knockout matches where we faltered, we can observe that luck was not on our side each time.”
Gavaskar cited the example of the 2019 World Cup semi-final, which extended to the following day due to weather conditions, affecting India’s performance in seaming conditions. He stressed that, in a tournament featuring several strong teams, fortune can significantly influence the outcome.
Khushi Sikarwar
