Cricket

Former Indian cricketer and National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman has lauded Rohit Sharma's leadership qualities, particularly his ability to take ownership of mistakes. Laxman praised Rohit's decision to bat first in the opening Test against New Zealand, despite it backfiring spectacularly.Laxman emphasized the importance of leaders acknowledging their errors and taking responsibility for their decisions. He cited Rohit's post-match press conference, where he admitted to misreading the pitch, as an example of exemplary leadership.Laxman also highlighted the significance of preparation and having a clear roadmap for success. He believes that great leaders are the best performers in their teams, and Rohit has exemplified this with the Indian team. Rohit has instilled a selfless style of play, encouraging his teammates to play with freedom and aggression.Despite India's poor start in the Bengaluru Test, Laxman remains optimistic about a turnaround. He believes that the Indian batters, including Sarfaraz Khan and Virat Kohli, have the ability to contribute significantly. He also expressed confidence in the Indian spinners to make an impact in the fourth innings.Laxman emphasized the importance of trusting one's strengths in pressure situations, as demonstrated by Sarfaraz Khan's unbeaten 70. He believes that the Indian team will approach the remaining innings with a positive mindset and a determination to win.

Suryakumar Yadav, the charismatic Indian cricketer, has emerged as a beacon of leadership and sportsmanship. Since assuming the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, Surya has instilled a fresh and dynamic approach to the team's play.In the recently concluded T20I series against Bangladesh, Surya's leadership qualities shone brightly. After India's emphatic 3-0 series victory, Surya displayed a heartwarming gesture towards retiring Bangladesh star Mahmudullah. As Mahmudullah walked off the field after his final dismissal, Surya approached him, shook his hand, and embraced him, acknowledging his illustrious career.This act of sportsmanship resonated deeply with fans, showcasing Surya's humility and respect for his opponents. The video of Surya's gesture went viral on social media, earning widespread praise.Beyond his leadership, Surya has also emphasized the importance of versatility in T20 cricket. Speaking at the post-match presentation, he stressed the need for batters to be adaptable and flexible."We have to be flexible when it comes to batting and bowling. Bowlers who can have to chip in. Batters have to be flexible and their performances were commendable," Surya said.Surya's words reflect his own versatility as a player. He is renowned for his ability to play a wide range of shots and adapt to different situations. This adaptability has been crucial to India's success under his captaincy.As India continues to prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Surya's leadership and vision will be vital. His ability to inspire his teammates, foster a positive team culture, and promote versatility will be key to India's chances of success on the global stage.

Salman Butt Defends Babar Azam Amidst Resignation and CriticismFormer Pakistan captain Salman Butt has come to the defense of Babar Azam following his resignation as the team's white-ball captain. The move came after ex-pacer Sikander Bakht criticized Azam's leadership and performance during the recent T20 World Cup.Bakht had suggested that Azam should have stepped down immediately after Pakistan's group stage exit, saying, "You finally felt ashamed!" However, Butt believes that such criticism is unwarranted."Respect is given to those who have earned it," Butt said on a TV show. "It's unfortunate to criticize a player who has been Pakistan's best for the past five years."Butt highlighted Azam's consistent contributions to Pakistan cricket, including his impressive batting record and leadership qualities. He emphasized the need to recognize Azam's accomplishments, regardless of personal opinions."You can like or dislike any person, but you should consider the player's stature while criticizing," Butt concluded.Azam's resignation has sparked mixed reactions within the cricket community. Some have questioned his decision, while others have expressed support for his leadership. Butt's defense underscores the importance of acknowledging Azam's significant contributions to Pakistan cricket amidst leadership changes.

MS Dhoni's leadership style, characterized by a blend of humor and strategic acumen, was evident throughout the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer Mohit Sharma shared an anecdote on the "2 Sloggers" podcast that highlights Dhoni's ability to guide his players with a touch of lightheartedness.During an IPL match in Chennai, Deepak Chahar, another CSK bowler, bowled a knuckle ball that was dispatched for a boundary. Dhoni, observing Chahar's struggles, advised him to refrain from using the knuckle ball. Chahar acknowledged the advice, but a few deliveries later, he bowled the same knuckle ball again, which sailed over the batter's head."Deepak Chahar has also received a lot of sticks (from Dhoni). In 2019, Deepak was playing, and I was not. The game was in Chennai, and everyone was sweating profusely. He bowled a knuckle ball that I think was a full toss or something, which was hit for either a four or a six. Dhoni bhai told him not to bowl it again. He said, 'ok Mahi bhai'. After bowling the next 2-3 ball, he bowled the knuckle ball again which this time went over the head of the batter," Mohit recounted on the podcast.Dhoni, with his trademark wit, responded to the delivery by telling Chahar, "Bewakoof tu nahi, mai hu" (You're not the fool, I am). This outburst was a mix of lightheartedness and mild frustration from the five-time IPL-winning skipper.Despite the occasional teasing, Dhoni's trust in Chahar was evident in the 22 wickets he took that season. Dhoni often entrusted Chahar with bowling all four of his overs upfront, a testament to his belief in the young bowler's abilities.With Dhoni's potential retirement from the IPL looming, there have been calls from his former teammates, including Suresh Raina, for him to play one more season and mentor Ruturaj Gaikwad in captaincy. Dhoni handed over the captaincy to Gaikwad ahead of IPL 2024.Although troubled by a knee injury, Dhoni's impressive cameos in IPL 2024, where he scored 161 runs at a staggering strike rate of 220.55, hinted that he may have more cricket left in him.

The World Cup was slipping away from India, a second heartbreak in seven months seemed imminent. Axar Patel had started the 15th over of South Africa's run-chase in the T20 World Cup final in Bridgetown with the Proteas needing 54 for victory off 36 deliveries. A savage onslaught from Heinrich Klaasen fetched 24 runs off the left-arm spinner's final over of the competition. South Africa's equation was down to 30 off 30, with six wickets in hand.Axar had had a superb World Cup in all three departments. Why, even in the final, it was his 31-ball 47, when promoted to No. 5, which ensured that India scored at a healthy clip despite Virat Kohli going 35 deliveries without a boundary at one stage. Even with the ball, his first three overs had yielded a more than acceptable 25, well below the required run rate at the start of the South African innings. Yet, if the Gujarat all-rounder felt as if he'd rather the earth opened and swallowed him whole, there was good reason to do so.A downcast Axar received his cap from the umpire, looking dazed, when his captain strode up to him and whispered words of encouragement. Rohit Sharma told Axar he had no reason to feel disappointed because even good deliveries had been sent beyond the fence by Klaasen. He wasn't saying it for effect or to soften the blow; Rohit is that kind of captain – empathetic, understanding, a solid figure of support in times of crises, but also unafraid to crack the whip if he perceives even the slightest slackening of effort.To take time off at a critical stage of the contest, with the game almost slipping away, when he had other things on his mind spoke to Rohit's unique leadership style. Five IPL titles as captain haven't transpired by chance or accident; Rohit is a fabulous man-manager, one of the most significant traits a captain must possess, apart from being an astute tactician and a great reader of the game.Rohit's mind was ticking after the Axar over that could have been the difference between ecstasy and agony. To find the wherewithal at that point to seek out the bowler and lift his spirits was a master-stroke, a typical Rohit gesture which is one of the reasons he is so adored by his teammates. Aware that no purpose would be served by dwelling on the six Axar deliveries that had seemingly altered the course of the final, Rohit chose to look forwards. He must have feared a reprisal of the 50-over World Cup final in Ahmedabad when India's perfect campaign came to a juddering halt against the Australian juggernaut, but he could ill afford to make his apprehensions apparent. Especially when in a spot, the team looks to the leader for inspiration and comfort.By maintaining a confident exterior, no matter the cesspool of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him, Rohit was sending out a clear, voluble message – ‘We are still in it, lads’. He then marshalled his troops with the felicity and situational awareness of a celebrated general, tweaking the field here, making a change there. He brought Jasprit Bumrah on for the 16th over, maybe an over earlier than he would have liked, maybe not, for control. His undisputed spearhead responded by conceding only four.Then, after Hardik Pandya lucked it out by forcing Klaasen to feather a slower, wide ball outside off to Rishabh Pant, Rohit persisted with Bumrah for over No. 18 when normally he keeps him back for No. 19. Bumrah plucked out Marco Jansen's leg pole, conceding only two runs in that over. The balance of power had shifted inexorably during those two Bumrah overs, and India tightened the screws to complete a remarkable seven-win victory when defeat had appeared on the cards 30 minutes previously.After the last ball of the final had been delivered by Hardik, Rohit flung himself to the ground, prone, at cover and slapped the turf vehemently and repeatedly with his right palm. It was an outburst of naked emotion from someone who wears his emotion openly, but seldom loses control. In that one iconic gesture lay relief and delight, redemption and vindication. The T20 World Cup triumph wouldn't quite make up for defeat in the final of the longer white-ball World Cup, but considering the circumstances under which it came, Rohit would take it. Gladly. With feeling.Perhaps, in some quarters, India winning a World Cup under Rohit was taken for granted merely because he had piloted Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles. If only life were that simple. Perhaps Rohit felt the weight of expectations, perhaps he was so gutted by defeat to Australia that he chose to extend his T20I career merely in pursuit of the pot of gold. By steering the team to the T20 crown against all odds, Rohit has stormed into rarefied territory, joining Kapil Dev and Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the only Indian World Cup-winning captains.‘It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy’ has been the overriding theme over the last three or so months. Nice guys, it seems, can and do finish first. Such has been the luminescence of his batting that Rohit’s leadership skills have often flown under the radar. Maybe in a way, he is an accidental Test captain because two and a half years before he embraced that role, he wasn’t even certain of his place in the Test XI, despite by then having spent six wildly fluctuating years as a Test cricketer.His elevation to the top of the batting order in the five-day game has come with unexpectedly spectacular consequences because, like in the white-ball formats, it’s as an opener that he has found his calling, entirely because of which the captaincy became his once Kohli decided to abdicate the throne. Rohit has overseen the first little period of transition in Indian Test cricket in a little while. It’s under him and head coach Rahul Dravid that Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill positively flourished. He oversaw the debuts of a slew of untested but talented youngsters during the Test series against England, when his tactical skills and inner steel were severely tested with injuries crippling India’s batting, and he ensured those youngsters were presented with the right atmosphere in which to blossom and perform.His overwhelming desire to walk the talk and take it upon himself to be the first executor of the policy of unfettered batting aggression might have led to a decline in the tall edifices he used to erect with unerring regularity in both T20Is and ODIs, but the impact of his boisterous ball-bashing in the PowerPlay overs has had a cascading effect on his colleagues.It’s impossible not to be inspired by the selflessness of the leader when the said leader has a monumental three ODI double-tons and a record-equalling five T20I hundreds, but is now more fixated on a 25-ball 50 than a 60-ball century. Rohit belongs to the school that believes that you shouldn’t demand of others what you don’t do yourself. By leading from the front in espousing the theory of boldness and attack, he is now commanding the loyalty and admiration of his troops. Without saying it in as many words, Rohit’s resounding message is ‘Do as I say, and as I do’, because what he is saying and what he is doing are perfectly in sync with each other.Having realised a long-cherished ambition of helping India break their ICC trophy drought, Rohit has now walked away from the T20I game with little left to achieve. There is unfinished business yet in the other two versions; 2025 will witness the Champions Trophy, which India last won in 2013, as well as the third final of the World Test Championship. India have lost both preceding finals, to New Zealand (2021) and Australia (2023) respectively, a tribute to their consistency that they made both title rounds but a blow to their ego and dream that they couldn’t navigate the final step successfully. Within a few months next year, Rohit will have a grand chance to take India to the unprecedented heights they touched only under Dhoni, an exciting possibility that one is sure Rohit will approach with tempered optimism rather than with the fear of not making it happen.One of the boys Even though he is the undisputed leader – even a cursory glance will confirm that the eyes of all his nine outfielders are firmly trained on him between deliveries because he doesn’t suffer slackers gladly – Rohit has managed to remain one of the boys, sending his teammates into raptures with his pithy, often unprintable one-liners that carry not an iota of vindictiveness or malice. In a tense situation, he is the first with a joke, trying to lighten the mood not because he has to but because it comes naturally to him. He looks after the younger guys under him with the zest of a tigress protecting her cubs, though when it comes to reading the riot act, he has few equals. Rohit is a believer in tough love but is grudge-free and honest in his conversations and decision-making, qualities that separate the great leaders from the good ones. Indian cricket is fortunate that Rohit is the latest in a long line of terrific captains and leaders, but one of a kind when it comes to a lot of things – including tactical astuteness and terrific wit.

Virat Kohli's recent performance in the ongoing first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai has been a topic of discussion among cricket enthusiasts. Despite not scoring significant runs, Kohli's presence on the field has been a source of inspiration for the Indian team.In the first innings, Kohli managed a score of 6, while in the second innings, he was dismissed for 17. However, his contributions extend beyond his batting performance. Kohli's experience and leadership qualities have been invaluable to the team, especially in the absence of regular captain Rohit Sharma.During Bangladesh's second innings on Day 3, Kohli was captured making a humorous gesture that has since gone viral on social media. The gesture, which involved Kohli pretending to play a shot with an imaginary bat, has been interpreted as a light-hearted moment amidst the intense competition.Despite his recent batting struggles, Kohli remains a key figure in the Indian team. His ability to motivate and inspire his teammates is a testament to his leadership qualities. Moreover, his presence on the field provides a sense of stability and confidence to the younger players.While India is in a strong position to win the first Test, thanks to centuries from Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, Kohli's contributions cannot be overlooked. His experience and leadership will be crucial as the series progresses.

Gautam Gambhir, a legendary cricketer and now a respected coach, has a proven track record of success both on and off the field. As a player, he played pivotal roles in India's triumphs at the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he led the Kolkata Knight Riders to the title.Beyond his playing career, Gambhir has made a significant impact as a mentor for various IPL teams, including the Lucknow Super Giants and KKR. His guidance and insights have been instrumental in shaping the teams' strategies and performances.Now, as the coach of the Indian cricket team, Gambhir faces a crucial challenge. The upcoming months will be a test of his leadership and tactical acumen as India embarks on a mission to achieve success on the international stage.Gambhir is known for his straightforward and honest approach. Manan Vohra, a prominent figure in Indian domestic cricket, shared an enlightening conversation he had with Gambhir after being selected for only one match during the 2022 and 2023 LSG seasons."I approached Gambhir and expressed my concerns about playing just one match," Vohra recalled. "He responded with a simple yet profound statement: 'Life is different for everyone; some players get eight matches, some get just one. Not everyone gets the same opportunities. But if you have one match, you have to make the most of it.'"Initially, I could have taken offense, but I realized the wisdom in his words. If you're truly talented, you should be able to prove yourself even with limited opportunities."Vohra's experience highlights Gambhir's belief in accountability and the importance of seizing every chance. This philosophy has resonated with Vohra and has influenced his approach to the game.As India prepares for upcoming challenges, Gambhir's leadership and guidance will be crucial. His experience, tactical prowess, and unwavering determination will be invaluable assets as the team strives for success on the global stage.

Former Mumbai Indians fielding coach Jonty Rhodes has shared his observations on Rohit Sharma's batting style and demeanor during his time with the franchise. Rhodes noted that while Rohit's technical footwork may not be the most sound, his exceptional hand-eye coordination and relaxed approach at the crease have been key factors in his success as a batter.Rhodes emphasized that Rohit's practice habits differed from those of legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar. "He didn't practice as hard as Sachin Tendulkar. That's for sure," Rhodes said. However, he acknowledged that Rohit's natural talent and ability to execute his shots with ease have compensated for any perceived lack of technical perfection.Despite criticism for his limited foot movement, Rhodes believes that Rohit's relaxed stance and fluid hand movements have allowed him to overcome this perceived weakness. "He's being criticized for not having a lot of foot movement, but because he is so relaxed at the crease and those hands flow well, it's been great to see him," Rhodes said.Rhodes also praised Rohit's ability to stay true to himself, both on and off the field. He believes that Rohit's lighthearted and playful demeanor has helped create a relaxed and enjoyable team atmosphere. "He's really funny and people don't expect that from Rohit. He's quite the cheeky guy," Rhodes said.Rhodes concluded by highlighting Rohit's leadership qualities, noting that his ability to connect with his teammates and create a positive environment has been instrumental in his success as a captain. "As a captain, that takes the pressure away, the mindset you know, the players are not stressed under him," Rhodes said.

Piyush Chawla, a seasoned Indian spinner, has heaped praise on Rohit Sharma's exceptional leadership qualities and unwavering commitment to the Mumbai Indians franchise. Chawla, who played alongside Rohit in the 2023 IPL season, witnessed firsthand the impact of his captaincy on the team's success.Chawla highlighted Rohit's unwavering loyalty and tireless efforts for the Mumbai Indians. He emphasized how Rohit's leadership played a crucial role in guiding the team to numerous victories. In the 2023 IPL season, Chawla himself showcased his prowess on the field, securing 22 wickets across 16 matches, making him the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament.Chawla shared an anecdote from the season, revealing an instance when Rohit summoned him to his room at the unusual hour of 2:30 AM. "I've played so much cricket with him that we've reached a comfort level. We sit off-the-field as well. Once, at 2:30 in the night, he texted me and asked, 'you up?' He drew a field on paper and discussed with me about potentially dismissing Warner. Even at that time, he was thinking about how he could get the best out of me," Chawla told Shubhankar Mishra on YouTube.Chawla stressed that Rohit's influence extends beyond his role as a captain, highlighting his leadership qualities. He referred to instances from the ODI World Cup held last year and the recent T20 World Cup to support his point. "There's a captain, then there's a leader. He isn't a captain, he is a leader. Whether it was 2023 ODI WC, or the 2024 T20 WC, the way he batted, he sets the tone in such a way that he made it easy for next batters. He's a true leader. He gives you a free hand," said Chawla.Rohit-led Indian team ended the decade-long ICC title drought after beating South Africa in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 to lift their second title in the format. In 2023, the Men in Blue failed to win the World Test Championship and 2023 ODI World Cup under Rohit's leadership after losing to Australia in the finals.