Rohit Sharma has learnt the art of captaincy from MS Dhoni: Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu, the discarded Indian batsman, reckons that Rohit Sharma has learnt captaincy from MS Dhoni. The 34-year-old is currently a part of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), led by Dhoni, in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The veteran has been with the franchise for the last couple of years and though he didn’t perform to expectations last season, he was retained.

As far as Dhoni is concerned, he has three IPL titles to go with a couple of Champions League T20 trophy to his name. Under his leadership, the Yellow Army have made the IPL playoffs every other time. Rohit, on the other hand, is the most successful captain in the history of the T20 tournament.

He became the captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) midway through the 2013 season, taking over from Ricky Ponting. MI won the IPL that season and afterwards in 2015, 2017 and 2019 respectively. Rayudu feels that Rohit along with national skipper Virat Kohli has learnt a lot from Dhoni.

Long way to go for Rohit Sharma, feels Rayudu

“Dhoni bhai has been the captain for all of us including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Whatever Rohit is becoming he has learnt from Dhoni as to how Dhoni bhai used to captain for India. There won’t be much difference and I think he is going in the right direction. Long way to go for him to achieve the success of Dhoni but I am sure he will get there,” Rayudu was quoted as saying during an Instagram Live session with CSK.

Kohli took over as the Test skipper at the fag end of 2014 after MS Dhoni hung his boots from the format. In 2017, he became the captain of the ODI and T20I team as well. Last year, after India’s victory over the West Indies in Jamaica, Kohli surpassed Dhoni as the most successful Test captain.

Ever since he was snubbed from the national team for the World Cup, Rayudu has faced tumultuous times. He retired from the game, but came back to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy. He was set to play in the 2020 IPL, which has been postponed due to COVID-19.