I have always been a fan of Rohit Sharma, the captain and leader: Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan, England's World Cup-winning captain, was full of praise for Rohit Sharma, stating he has been a fan of India's skipper ahead of the much-awaited ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The ICC (International Cricket Council) global event is scheduled to be contested in India from October 5 to November 19, with defending champions England taking on New Zealand in the curtain raiser at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Morgan stated that Rohit had provided a pivotal impact on his team even when he was not leading the team. The 36-year-old also said that Kohli will also follow the same path. He added that the former India skipper will make a major difference to Rohit in the dressing room, having the experience of winning the World Cup in 2011.

“I have always been a fan of Rohit Sharma, the captain and leader. If you see, he has the ability to carry his team with him and also has the team to do extremely well in the world cup. Having spoken to a number of players in his team, I know Rohit commands a lot of respect among the group and is a really good leader of men. Even when he wasn’t captain I am sure he made a difference in the change room and was a key influence. 

“Much like I think Virat Kohli is now in the change room and that’s another major plus for India going into the world cup. Kohli who played and won the world cup in 2011 on home soil will make a major difference to Rohit in the Indian change room," Morgan said while speaking to Revsportz on the show Backstage with Boria Majumdar.

Virat Kohli is one of the best ever and one of the greatest I have seen: Morgan

Eoin Morgan went on to praise star India batter, Virat Kohli, reckoning he is one of the greatest cricketers to play the game. The 36-year-old added that Kohli likes to perform on big stages and he wouldn’t want to face him in an event like the World Cup. The former India skipper tackles all the energy and hype around major tournaments and uses all of it to make a difference, according to the Englishman.

“He is a phenomenal player. One of the best ever and one of the greatest I have seen. And the best thing about Kohli is the way he conducts himself off the field as well. He loves the big stage and if you are an opponent you don’t want to face him in a big stage like the world cup for you know he will stand up and deliver for his team. He has this ability to make the big occasions count, and we have seen that with him many times in the past. 

"Again, he is a leader in that group and his presence in the change room will make a big difference to Rohit Sharma. Also, there will be players who feel the nerve and with Kohli around there can be nothing better for them. He will give them the confidence they need and is a massive player for India in the World Cup. He harnesses all of the energy and hype around big games and uses all of it to make a difference. Very few players in my generation could do that. And he will want to win. He is that type of competitor and has that type of focus. He will want to lift that trophy”, Morgan added.