Cricket

Virat Kohli's tenure as Test captain marked a shift in Indian cricket, with "intent" becoming the driving force. The team's potent pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, and Mohammed Shami, became a formidable weapon.When Rohit Sharma took over the reins, he brought a subtle but significant change. "For me, aggression is all about your actions, not the reactions," he emphasized. Rohit's approach is characterized by a relentless pursuit of victory, coupled with a clear communication of his gameplan to his teammates.Rohit's leadership style was evident in India's recent Test victory over Bangladesh in Kanpur. The team's ability to push the game forward at all times, even against the clock, showcased his influence. His informal and colloquial language creates a sense of camaraderie on the field, fostering a "big brother" vibe.Despite his reputation as the "Hitman" of Indian cricket, Rohit is far from being a larger-than-life superstar. His leadership extends beyond his own performances. In the absence of key players during the Gabba heist in 2021 and the five-Test series against England earlier this year, Rohit handed Test caps to four players who responded with exceptional performances.Rohit's ability to inspire his team is crucial to India's recent dominance in limited-overs cricket. His belief in uninhibited cricket has been a cornerstone of their success in the ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup.Rohit's leadership style is characterized by a calm and calculated approach. "When you are playing at such a high level, you have to be calm to think wisely," he stated. "I use my experience and knowledge to trust myself."As Rohit approaches the twilight of his career, he remains focused on leading India to further glory. His unwavering determination and ability to inspire his teammates will undoubtedly guide them towards another exciting dash to the finish line.

Matthew Hayden, the former Australian cricketer, has expressed his belief that MS Dhoni's exceptional leadership qualities and selfless attitude make him capable of captaining even the Australian cricket team. Hayden, who played under Dhoni for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, highlighted Dhoni's humility and team-first approach as key attributes that set him apart."Dhoni is exactly what I was saying before. He can easily sit in an Australian dressing room and easily captain it because he believes that he is not bigger than anyone else. He'll collect bags, he'll throw cricket balls. He's just a very humble individual. And he works hard at the team and not on promoting MS Dhoni," Hayden said in a conversation with Sports Vikatan.Hayden, who was part of CSK's first IPL-winning team, emphasized Dhoni's ability to galvanize his teammates without seeking the limelight. "You'll never hear him telling people how great he is or what he's achieved. That is MS Dhoni's X-factor. You look at Australia and go '25 million people. How did they win the World Cup against us?' MS Dhoni... he just finds a way to galvanize people together and does it in a way that is nothing about ego, not about self-promotion," Hayden added.Since retiring from international cricket in August 2020, Dhoni has continued to lead CSK with distinction, adding two more IPL titles to his name in 2021 and 2023, bringing the team's total to five. Hayden attributes Dhoni's enduring popularity and success to his humble beginnings and unwavering focus on the team."Coming from a small village and finding a way to the hearts of India and hearts of Chennai in particular. Thala will remain the iconic leader of this franchise forever. But to hear him saying how great he is... you don't even hear from MS Dhoni. And that's his charm. Team before anyone and everyone loves that," Hayden mentioned.Dhoni's legacy as a captain and player continues to inspire, with his unique blend of humility, leadership, and strategic acumen earning him admiration worldwide.

Mumbai Indians' Struggles Stem from Internal Divisions, Says Michael ClarkeFormer Australian captain Michael Clarke has expressed his doubts about the Mumbai Indians' chances of reaching the playoffs in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Clarke believes that the team's inconsistent performances are a result of internal divisions and a lack of teamwork."I think there's a lot more going on than what we are seeing on the outside," Clarke said on Star Sports Cricket Live. "You can't have that many good players and perform this inconsistently."Clarke's comments come after the Mumbai Indians suffered a disappointing start to the season, winning only three of their first nine matches. The team has been plagued by injuries and a lack of form from key players, including captain Rohit Sharma.Clarke believes that the abrupt change in captaincy, with Hardik Pandya replacing Sharma, has further disrupted the team's chemistry. "Something is not working, they are not gelling together, they are not playing as a team," he said.Despite having match-winners like Jasprit Bumrah and Romario Shepherd in their squad, the Mumbai Indians have struggled to find consistency. Clarke acknowledged that individual brilliance can sometimes carry a team over the line, but he emphasized the importance of teamwork in winning big tournaments."I think to win big tournaments you need to be a team and not just have individual performances," Clarke said. "Unfortunately, they haven't played well as a team so I hope they turn it around, but I can't see them winning this game."The Mumbai Indians are currently second-to-last on the points table and face an uphill battle to qualify for the playoffs. They will need to win all of their remaining five matches and hope that other results go their way.

Ravichandran Ashwin's profound admiration for Rohit Sharma extends beyond his exceptional leadership skills to his compassionate and humane qualities. This became evident during the third Test in Rajkot when Ashwin's mother, Chitra, was hospitalized.In a society where self-interest often prevails, Rohit's leadership shines through with his empathy and generosity. Ashwin believes these qualities inspire teammates to give their all for him. This sentiment is particularly poignant for Ashwin, who had to hastily return to Chennai shortly after achieving his 500th Test wicket.Recalling the harrowing 48 hours, Ashwin described the emotional turmoil he experienced. "I was crying in my room and couldn't think clearly," he said. "I was torn between my duty to the team and my desire to be with my mother."Rohit's response was extraordinary. He urged Ashwin to leave the squad and be with his family, even arranging a charter flight for him. Ashwin also expressed gratitude to Cheteshwar Pujara, who accompanied him to Chennai.However, it was Rohit's request to team physio Kamlesh Jain to accompany Ashwin that left him overwhelmed. "Rohit asked Kamlesh to travel with me and check on me during this tough time," Ashwin said. "It was 9:30 pm, and I was gobsmacked. I couldn't even think about it."Ashwin acknowledged that he would have allowed a player to return home in a similar situation but questioned whether he would have gone to such lengths to arrange a charter flight or ask a support staff member to check on him. "I saw an outstanding leader in Rohit that day," he said.Ashwin believes that Rohit's IPL achievements are on par with MS Dhoni's, but he believes that God has bigger plans for him. "He's won five IPL titles and is on par with Dhoni, but he should get something bigger than all that," he said.Ashwin's respect for Rohit grew immensely after the gesture. "In a selfish society, thinking for someone else's wellbeing is a rarity," he said. "My respect for him grew tremendously after that."Ashwin concluded by emphasizing the bond between Rohit and his teammates. "He takes 10 steps for a player, and a player can give his life for him," he said.