IPL 2022: “Rohit Sharma would’ve led Deccan Chargers before Mumbai Indians”- Pragyan Ojha

Rohit Sharma played for Deccan Chargers from 2008-10 winning the IPL in 2009.

Rohit Sharma is the most successful captain in IPL history, having won five titles with the Mumbai Indians. Rohit was bought by the franchise in IPL 2011 auction and was named captain in 2013, changing the fortunes of the Mumbai Indians.

Former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist had noticed Rohit's captaincy skills, while Pragyan Ojha, who played with Rohit at Deccan and MI, said that Rohit was in line to become the captain of the Deccan Chargers.

Rohit was signed by the Chargers for $750,000 in the inaugural IPL 2008 season auction of the Indian Premier League, where he spent three seasons under Gilchrist's leadership before moving to Mumbai.

Pragyan Ojha said on Cricbuzz on Sunday that Gilchrist had selected Rohit as his successor at the Deccan Chargers franchise and had included him in the think tank.

Also Read: WATCH: Ross Taylor gets emotional during national anthem in his last outing for New Zealand, gets guard of honour

“As a batsman he was extraordinary. Then even Mumbai's domestic team did not see him as a captain. But I distinctly remember that when Adam Gilchrist was captain, he kept Rohit in the think tank. He felt that the way Rohit batted, the clarity he showed, and the ability he showed in pressure situations, he might have leadership qualities. And when his inputs started coming in, it surely felt like he could be the captain,” he said. 

Rohit would have led the Deccan team long before being named captain of the Mumbai Indians, who had identified him as a future captaincy option after the third season, according to the former India player.

“Had there been no IPL auction after the third season, then probably Rohit would have led the Deccan Chargers side before leading the Mumbai Indians team. Because Gilchrist had already said 'Rohit is ready now'. But in auction, it's not in anybody's hand, and everyone knew that Mumbai Indians would go after Rohit Sharma because, after Sachin Tendulkar, they felt that if anyone could lead the side then it would be Rohit,” he added. 

Regrettably, the Deccan Chargers were dissolved in 2012, a year before Rohit was named as Mumbai captain.