Indian batting legend VVS Laxman on Friday (May 28) has heaped praise on current India’s vice-captain, Rohit Sharma, in the limited-overs cricket for his brilliant ability to handle pressure in tough situations and said that’s behind his successful captaincy in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Laxman, who had played with Rohit at the now-defunct 2009 IPL winning franchise Deccan Chargers, explained how the right-hander has grown in stature both as captain and batsman since playing his first IPL season with the Chargers in 2008.
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However, Deccan didn't do well in the IPL 2008, but Rohit left a mark with his brilliant batting performances in the middle-order (404 runs) in his first-ever season.
Well, the 33-year-old is now recognized as one of the finest batsmen in the world, as well as, most successful captain in the history of the IPL with four titles to his name (5 as a player) since taking over Mumbai Indians captaincy midway during 2013 season.
And Laxman believes Rohit’s ability to remain calm under pressure makes him one of the most successful captains in the IPL history. The 45-year-old further added that the right-hander became a leader in the Deccan Chargers while recalling how he used to help other youngsters and express his views about different aspects of the game at that young age.
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Laxman said on Star Sports' show Cricket Connected: “He became a leader in the Deccan Chargers team. When he came in the first year, he was a youngster who just played the T20 World Cup, made his international debut for India.”
He further added, “I think the way he was batting in the middle order, under pressure because the team didn't do well in the inaugural IPL edition in 2008, but Rohit was a standout performer for us. In each and every match, with each and every success, his confidence level was just growing, he was getting into the core group, helping the youngsters, voicing his opinion and those were early signs.”
Laxman signed off by saying, “But for me, most important was handling the pressure because not once in those tough situations when he was batting did it show, and he has evolved and blossomed. That's why he's one of the most successful captains in IPL history.”
(With PTI Inputs)
