'He will find a way to do well' - Sourav Ganguly backs Rohit Sharma to thrive as captain

A new era has gotten underway in Indian cricket with Rohit Sharma replacing Virat Kohli as captain in white-ball formats. While the veteran opener took over the charge of T20I team last month, he was official named the ODI skipper on Wednesday (December 8). Notably, Kohli, who stepped down as the T20I skipper post the T20 World Cup 2021, had stated that he would continue to lead the side in the other two formats – Tests and ODIs.

Hence, Rohit’s appointment as ODI skipper was a shock for many. Nonetheless, expectations are sky high from the veteran opener as he is a proven leader. The only captain to have won five Indian Premier League (IPL) titles, Rohit has done well while leading the national team in Kohli’s absence. He also took India to glory in the 2018 Asia Cup where Kohli was rested.

Rohit Sharma has had success in big tournaments: Sourav Ganguly

Highlighting the same, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly backed the 34-year-old to thrive as a leader. “That’s why the selectors have backed him (Rohit Sharma). He will find a way to do well and I hope he does. His record for IPL(Mumbai Indians) is phenomenal… winning five titles,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by News18.

“He captained India in Asia Cup a couple of years ago which India won as well, and India won without Kohli. To win a title without him spoke volumes of that team’s strength. So he has had success in big tournaments. He has a good team. So hopefully they can all turn it around,” added the former Indian captain.

Meanwhile, Ganguly also revealed that he had requested Kohli to not give up T20I captaincy. As he didn’t agree to do so, the national selectors, the national selectors appointed Rohit as ODI skipper as well. “I personally requested him (Kohli) not to give up T20 captaincy. Obviously, he felt the workload. Which is fine, he has been a great cricketer, he has been very intense with his cricket,” asserted the former Indian captain.

“He has captained for a long period of time and these things happen. Because I have captained for a long period of time; therefore, I know,” he further added.