Under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, India retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023.
While India thrashed Australia by an innings and 132 runs in the opening Test in Nagpur, they won the second Test in Delhi by six wickets despite being in a precarious situation at one point on Day 2.
In reply to Australia’s first innings total of 263, the hosts were reeling at 139/7 before all-round duo of Akshar Patel (74) and R Ashwin (37) forged a 114-run partnership to take the team’s total to 262.
Leading by 62 runs, Australia started the morning session of day three with a slight advantage. However, the visitors were blown away by the Indian spinners as Ravindra Jadeja (7/42) and Ashwin (3/59) shared all 10 wickets to bundle them out for a paltry 113.
After India took an unassailable 2-0 lead with a six-wicket win in Delhi Test, former cricketer Gautam Gambhir issued an interesting statement about the captaincy styles of Rohit and his predecessor Virat Kohli.
According to Gambhir, Rohit has not created his own template as a leader in the longest format of the game. Instead, he gave a special mention to Kohli.
"Honestly, I have always believed that Rohit Sharma is an amazing captain, but there is not much difference between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's captaincy, especially in this format. Virat Kohli started this template," Gambhir told Star Sports.
"Virat Kohli has captained exceptionally well whenever he has captained this Test team and Rohit is probably following that template only. Honestly, Rohit has not created his own template. The way Virat Kohli managed Ashwin and Jadeja, it is absolutely identical captaincy," he added.
Gambhir also credited Kohli for successfully launching some of the biggest names while being at the helm. He further said that conquering Australia, South Africa, and England will be the real challenge for Rohit as a Test captain.
"The real challenge for Rohit Sharma will be when he goes to Australia, South Africa and England because there were big challenges for Virat Kohli there. Virat Kohli has made this team - Mohammad Shami, Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashwin, Jadeja, Akshar. Virat Kohli was as successful. So I don't see too much difference and I don't even want to say who is a better captain in these conditions because Virat was an equally good captain as Rohit is now. Rohit's challenge will be overseas," Gambhir opined.
With the victory in Delhi Test, the Indian team also retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for fourth straight time.
The third Test will be played in Indore from March 1.