The key distinction between the two leaders was brought to light by former Indian batter Robin Uthappa, who shared a dressing room with both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma while he was playing for India in the IPL.  

Uthappa, who has since retired from cricket to work as an expert and commentator, claims that Rohit's captaincy style is highly inclusive, while Kohli's was more exclusive.

“The style of leadership was not inclusive. Virat’s style of leadership was very exclusive. Aap meri tareh bano, toh aap fit ho jaoge. Rohit’s style of leadership is very inclusive. Aap jaha par bhi ho, waha par raho; hum baat karke apki game ko uthayenge," Uthappa said while speaking to Lallantop.

“I haven’t played under Virat as a captain very much. But Virat, as a captain, he was very ‘my way or the highway’ kind of a captain. It’s not like these guys aren’t also like that, but how you treat your team, how you treat your personnel, because it is not just about results. Virat’s style of captaincy was different to the extent that you needed to reach his level. Whether it was fitness, whether it was eating habits, whether it was listening, or agreeing, all of that had to happen at that standard,” he added.

Virat Kohli is considered perhaps the greatest Test captain India had, while Rohit Sharma broke India’s ICC trophy drought by winning the T20 World Cup 2024.

“There are two different types of leaders. There are leaders who say this is the standard needed. Some leaders say, I will meet you where you are, and I will elevate you to the standards I need you to be. For me, that is the basic difference between the leadership of them (Rohit and Kohli). Both work and both will produce results, but the impact on the personnel will be different. One will value a lot, and the exclusive one will feel let down a lot," Uthappa added.

Virat Kohli captained India from 2014-2022, while Rohit Sharma took over from Kohli after he stepped down.