It was a moment of celebration and admiration as Team India, steered by Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, clinched the five-match Test series against England, an achievement made all the more remarkable considering the team’s shaky start. Humbled in the opening game in Hyderabad despite establishing a commanding lead of 190 runs in the initial innings, the Indian side bounced back powerfully, proving their mettle and depth of talent.
As the series unfolded, two players emerged as standout performers, capturing the cricketing world’s attention. Yashasvi Jaiswal, with bat in hand, etched his name into the annals of cricket with consecutive double centuries, while Dhruv Jurel’s contributions were integral, particularly during the critical moments of the Ranchi Test, which saw India amass crucial runs.
India’s triumphant run did not come without its hurdles. The team’s roster bore the absence of stalwart Virat Kohli throughout the series, and opener KL Rahul’s participation was cut short following the first Test. In addition, ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah and versatile all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja each missed a Test for various reasons. Such circumstances laid the groundwork for skipper Rohit Sharma to step up and exhibit his leadership prowess, and that he did spectacularly, earning praise from several quarters.
Among the luminaries praising Rohit was former India cricketer Suresh Raina. Raina extended his commendations to Sharma, acknowledging his ability to blend young talent into the team seamlessly and infusing them with confidence—a trait reminiscent of the famed captaincy style of MS Dhoni, under whom Raina had the privilege of playing. “He is the next MS Dhoni. He has done well. He’s been giving a lot of chances to youngsters the way MS Dhoni did. I played a lot of cricket under MS Dhoni. Sourav Ganguly supported his team a lot. Then MS Dhoni came and led from the front. Rohit is going in the right direction. He is a brilliant captain,” Raina articulated.
A notable aspect of Raina’s praise was his observation of the team’s cohesiveness and unaltered vigor despite the assorted injuries that occurred throughout the series. Further, Raina lauded Rohit for his astute management of the bowling attack, notably the fast bowlers, which signified a strategic shift for Indian cricket.
“Earlier, we used to have one fast bowler and 3-4 spinners. Now, he is bringing two fast bowlers. He brought in Siraj and Bumrah. He sent Bumrah back and managed his workload well and then handed debut to Akash Deep,” Raina elucidated, emphasizing the stark contrast to the days when India heavily relied on its spin department.
In a series where challenges rose like waves, Rohit Sharma stood as the captain navigating the ship with a composed yet strategic approach. Each player’s rotation and the confidence vested in them speaks volumes about Sharma’s adeptness in building and managing a team poised to overcome adversities. The success story of this series serves not only as a testament to the on-field brilliance of Team India but also as a tribute to the leadership skills of Rohit Sharma, who is now heralded as the captain who has etched his legacy alongside the greats of Indian cricket.
Related Stories
Further underlining the bustling cricketing action, Australia has unveiled their playing XI for the upcoming first Test against New Zealand. In a contrasting headline, New Zealand cricket faces a blow as Devon Conway is ruled out of the Test series opener against Australia, prompting the team to announce a replacement. Bangladesh cricket is also bustling with strategic moves as they appoint new batting and bowling coaches ahead of the much-anticipated Sri Lanka series.
