'I Have Played Under a Lot of Captains': Rohit Sharma Says Not Leading Team Isn't a New Experience

Rohit Sharma-led India start their T20 World Cup campaign on June 5. (PTI Photo)

Rohit Sharma’s highly successful era as Mumbai Indians captain came to an end with the franchise handing over the reins to allrounder Hardik Pandya last year.

Rohit is now playing under the captaincy of Pandya in the ongoing IPL 2024 but at the T20 World Cup, the role will be reversed. However, for Rohit, it’s business as usual and it’s not something that he hasn’t experienced before in his playing career.

“See, it is part of life. Not everything will go your way. It has been a great experience. Before also in my life, I have not been a captain and I have played under a lot of captains. It is no different or new to me,” Rohit told reporters on Thursday.

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Rohit has played under several captains in the past including the likes of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Virender Sehwag at the international level. And in IPL he has been led by Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers), Harbhajan Singh, Ricky Ponting (Both Mumbai Indians) and now Pandya.

“Whatever is there and you go by it and then try and do what is required from you as a player. I have only tried to do that in the last month or so,” Rohit said.

There has been a debate over Virat Kohli’s strike-rate when opening the innings for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the ongoing IPL. Kohli has scored 500 runs so far but his strike-rate of around 147 is quite low when compared to the likes of Travis Head (194 plus), Phil Salt (180 plus) and Sunil Narine (182 plus).

India chief of selector Ajit Agarkar said there wasn’t any discussion regarding Kohli’s strike-rate during team selection meeting and extolled the virtues of experience at a tournament like T20 World Cup.

“I don’t think we’ve been discussing it. He’s been in great form, fortunately in the IPL so no concerns there at all. With regards to how it’s going in the IPL, you’re still going to a World Cup, still international cricket — there is still that gap there,” Agarkar said.