The leader: As captain, Rohit Sharma is ready to go to any lengths for the benefit of his team

A few days before the Brisbane Test in January 2021, I reported that Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to play in the decider due to injury. This was routine work, and I didn’t think much of it until I got a message from Rohit Sharma. My job is to provide important updates to our readers. And here the Indian vice-captain (Ajinkya Rahane is the captain in the series) was trying not to make more such reports for this one Test saying that Bumrah’s update could help Australia and allow them to plan better for the game.

The question is why did Rohit do what he did? Didn’t he know that as media professionals we need to break news and by contacting her he was taking a chance?

First, it was confirmed that the news about Bumrah’s injury was correct. Secondly, it gave insight into the team’s mindset going into the decision. Thirdly, and most importantly, the boundary between the player and the media was becoming blurred for an instant.

It’s not something that happens too often. But that’s how Rohit is. He will go to great lengths to secure the benefits of his team and if that means he has to do something unimaginable, he will not hesitate. Almost all of his teammates swear by Rohit. He leads by example and is known to make the youngsters feel at ease when they are new to the dressing room. Not only does he take them out for dinner to relieve the pressure of international cricket, he claims that as a leader he is the least important member of the team and his job is to help his teammates.

“You cannot lead a cricket team by yourself. You have to understand and talk to each and every player in your team to find out what they are thinking and how they are approaching the game. You have to make sure that they disrupt your train of thought until you succeed in creating a cricket team,” Rohit said during a chat.

“As a captain you learn to understand the human mind better, deal with situations better, deal with different cultures and ideas and at the end of the day you become a better human being. an important member of the team. That’s how I think now if I have to take the team forward I can’t do it myself without the support of the boys. That’s why I think I’m the last member of the squad and the other ten are more important than me. This way I can get the best out of each.” These are the words of a mature cricketer, someone who has been around for over a decade and is on top of his game. He has no insecurity and that has started to show in this World Cup.

Rohit may not have scored big in all the matches, but every time he went out to bat he did two things for the team: he played the new ball out and he provided a quick start. His approach allowed the other hitters to settle in. “…mentally he’s very strong and has a real clarity of thought,” said former Australia captain Michael Clarke.

It is this clarity of thought that defines Rohit as a leader. Can skipper Rohit do justice to his potential and rise to the occasion in the semi-final and final for India? Can these be the two matches Indian fans have been waiting for? It will be the perfect ending to a perfect World Cup for the skipper.

At 35, this is Rohit’s best and probably last chance. It is important for him to prove to the world and more to himself that he is one of the best leaders ever. Rohit is yet another moment.