Zaheer Khan, a JioCinema expert, discussed Rohit Sharma’s role as a Test batsman and captain, as well as his potential performance in the upcoming India-England series, at the ‘Insiders Preview Ind vs Eng‘ show on JioCinema, Sports18.
Selected passages:
Regarding Rohit Sharma‘s leadership position
Zaheer Khan: It is widely acknowledged that Rohit has exerted a significant influence and made a profound impact on the entire group. He discusses the topic of communication. He instills sufficient confidence in each player and elicits their optimal performance. His captaincy has consistently been characterized by this distinctive feature, and he sets an example for others by taking the lead, as evident in his performance during the World Cup. He consistently demonstrates his words through his actions. Having a leader that demonstrates their words with actions enhances the overall efficiency of the entire group. In my opinion, he has demonstrated his ability to lead effectively.
Rohit’s position as a batsman who starts the innings for his team
Zaheer Khan: Ever since Rohit started opening in Test matches, he has achieved remarkable centuries in the most challenging circumstances. You have observed his adeptness in England when it pertained to evading the ball. According to him, he had exerted significant effort on it. You witnessed his match-winning performance in Chennai. Obtaining the advantage of winning the coin toss, choosing to bat first, and successfully dismissing the opposing team in their initial innings, while playing a crucial role in this achievement, is a source of gratification for any player competing at the highest level.
Therefore, he has also exerted such influence. You will observe something along those lines in this series. Given that it is a five-Test series, he will have numerous responsibilities to consider, both as a batsman and as a leader. He must collaborate with Rahul Dravid and the selectors to devise a strategy for player rotation. Both teams will strive to achieve this objective as a five-Test series presents unique challenges. It is crucial to maintain a strategic edge by carefully considering the resources that are most effective in specific conditions and maximizing the contribution of each team member.