Rohit Sharma has probably had the support of his players in a way that few India captains have in the past, and his role in strategizing the team's game plan has got glowing acclaim from India's former opener and batting coach, Vikram Rathour.
Sharma is also known for forgetting his things including bags, watches, iPads, phones, etc. The Indian captain also forgets what he decided at the toss multiple times, giving hilarious moments for social media.
However, Vikram Rathour said that despite his absent-mindedness, Rohit Sharma never forgets his gameplans and strategies for the match.
"Kisi captain ko maine team meetings ya strategy mei itna involve hote nahi dekha (I have never seen a captain get so involved in strategy and game-planning). He might forget whether he has decided to bat or bowl at the toss, or his phone and iPad on the team bus but he never forgets his game plan. He is very good at it and is a very shrewd tactician.
He spends a lot of time on the team's strategy. He is part of the bowlers' meeting, batters' meeting. He wants to sit with the bowlers and batters to try and understand what they are thinking. He invests a lot of time with the players,” Vikram Rathour told Taruwar Kohli on his podcast.
Rathour praised Rohit as the players' captain, saying that being a batsman with excellent abilities and consistency allows him to lead by example and continue to raise the bar for the rest of the squad, particularly batters.
"His first quality is that as a batsman he is a phenomenal player. I think he is someone who understands his game really well. He always has a clear game plan. Even as a leader, you will have to lead from the front, you have to perform to set the example; and since he has become the captain, he has always led by example,” Rathour added.
Rathour said that while Rohit's on-field decisions have mostly been "spot on", some of those surprise you as a coach sitting in the dugout or inside the pavilion, and you only realize later that it was a masterstroke.
"His tactical decisions on the field are spot on. Sitting outside, it surprises you as a coach as well. We sometimes think what is he doing, but then you realize after a while what he has done," he said.
Citing an example, Rathour mentioned one of Rohit's decisions during the T20 World Cup final earlier this year in June.
"In the T20 World Cup final, he finished (Jasprit) Bumrah's overs early. A lot of people must have questioned the decision, but that decision put us in the situation where 16 (runs) were needed in the last over," said Rathour.
Here is the video:
