India opener Rohit Sharma on Wednesday (August 5) shared his thoughts on captaincy, saying a leader should be selfless and he has no hesitation in calling himself the "least important person" in the Mumbai Indians team.
On occasions when Virat Kohli opted out of a series, it is Rohit who took over the captaincy duties for India and achieved impressive results. In 2018, he led the second-string Indian sides to Nidahas Trophy and Asia Cup wins.
Moreover, Sharma has guided Mumbai Indians to record four IPL titles after becoming the captain in 2013.
"I believe in a theory that when you are captain, you are the least important person. Others become more important in the larger scheme of things. It works differently for different leaders but as far as I am concerned, this theory works for me," he told PTI in an exclusive interview.
Recently, Rohit played down Suresh Raina’s comments about the similarities between him and MS Dhoni as captains. But there is no denying the fact that MI skipper can also remain as composed as former India captain in the most difficult of situations.
"Not showing anger is not a conscious effort. That's a natural instinct that you have and you don't try and be someone that you are not. Try and be yourself all the time. You do get angry, lose temper at times but it's important not to show it to your teammates. Hiding your emotions is the most crucial part," Rohit remarked.
With the announcement that IPL 2020 will be held in UAE from September 19 to November 10, Rohit Sharma’s focus now shifts to training after a lengthy COVID-19 hiatus.
"Hopefully, the gym will open this week and I can start my indoor (strength training) sessions. Right now, due to Mumbai monsoons, you can't train outdoor. I am planning to write a letter to MCA (on using indoor facilities)," he said.
Having led India to Asia Cup triumph in UAE two years back, Rohit has a fair idea about what awaits his team next month in terms of conditions.
"We have lot of time in our hands...I will be taking it slow. Luckily, I don't think there is any rush that I need to show. We have enough time. I will work on getting back to the ground slowly because the temperature in Dubai is 40 degrees. It's not easy," he stated.
"It's the longest gap that I have ever had in my career without holding a bat. It will be a bit challenging. Unless I play, I will not know where I am and how I feel but body is completely fine. I feel physically more strong than ever because of the last four months," he added.
