Sunil Gavaskar Praises Rohit Sharma’s Captaincy Skills After Test Retirement
After Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket, former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar had nothing but praise for the 38-year-old’s leadership abilities. Rohit, who captained India in 24 Tests, won 12, lost nine, and drew three matches during his tenure as skipper. Under his captaincy, India also finished as runners-up in the 2021-23 World Test Championship.
While Rohit’s captaincy credentials took a hit with India’s failure to qualify for the 2023-25 WTC final after consecutive series losses to New Zealand and Australia, Gavaskar highlighted his unique style of leadership in his column for Mid-day. He mentioned how Rohit’s laid-back demeanor concealed a strong determination to win, and his humorous Bambaiya Hindi conveyed serious messages to the younger players in the team.
Apart from his Test captaincy, Rohit has excelled as India’s white-ball captain, guiding the team to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. He retired from T20Is after the T20 World Cup but will continue to lead the ODI side.
Gavaskar commended Rohit’s success in bilateral series and ICC events, where India remained unbeaten in 13 consecutive matches under his captaincy during the last two ICC white-ball tournaments. Despite a loss to Australia in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, Rohit’s leadership ensured that the Indian tri-colour flew proudly in various cricketing events.
Following Rohit’s retirement from T20Is, Suryakumar Yadav took over as the T20I captain, but the next Test captain for India is yet to be decided. The team is gearing up for a five-Test series in England starting on June 20.
As Rohit bids farewell to Test cricket, he leaves behind a legacy of success and a unique leadership style that earned him praise from one of India’s legendary cricketers. His contributions to Indian cricket, both on and off the field, will be remembered for years to come.
