“Sits with the analytics team and coach and prepares” – Ravichandran Ashwin hails Rohit Sharma’s tactical prowess as captain

India’s veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has lauded Rohit Sharma’s tactical prowess as a leader, stating the Indian captain sits with the analytics team and coach to prepare for every match. Rohit is known for his astute captaincy and gets the best out of every player.

The Indian skipper recently guided India to T20 World Cup glory after leading from the front. Rohit scored 257 runs in eight matches at 257 runs in eight matches of the T20 World Cup 2024 at an average of 36.71 and a strike rate of 156.71. Rohit decided to call it a day from his T20I career after the conclusion of the World Cup.

Furthermore, Rohit took Mumbai Indians to five titles in the Indian Premier League. Ashwin said Rohit backs his selected players to the hilt.

Ravichandran Ashwin said on Vimal Kumar’s YouTube Channel, “If there is any big match or series coming up, Rohit sits with the analytics team and coach and prepares for it, like what’s the weakness of a particular batsman, what’s the plan of a bowler. That’s his strength but he always keeps the environment of the team light and backs the players. If he selects a player in the XI, he backs them 100%. I have played most of my career with these three captains.”

Ashwin hailed Rohit for keeping the dressing room atmosphere light.

“2-3 things are nice about Rohit’s captaincy. He always keep the environment of the team light. He makes an effort to keep it light. And he stays very balanced and tactically he is strong. Both Dhoni and Virat were also tactically strong but Rohit works more on the tactics.”

The Tamil Nadu spinner feels there are a lot of similarities in leadership styles of Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma but the latter keeps it light whereas the former is intense.

“Gauti bhai is very intense. There are similarities between Rohit and Gauti bhai’s leadership, but Rohit keeps it light. Gauti bhai is an intense person. He (Gambhir) is very passionate about Indian cricket, just like Rahul (Dravid) bhai. Both are very passionate about Indian cricket, but we believe both are different. Yes, they have different personalities,” said Ashwin.

India’s next assignment is a two-match Test series against Bangladesh.