Piyush Chawla recalls incident underscoring Rohit Sharma's commitment as captain
Piyush Chawla, the veteran leg-spinner, shared an untold story about Rohit Sharma's dedication and leadership. The revelation came during a recent interaction where Chawla discussed his experiences with Sharma in international cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL). He highlighted an incident that showcased Sharma's commitment to his role as captain, even off the field. Here are further details.
Chawla recalls late-night strategy session with Sharma
Chawla recalled a late-night incident when Sharma texted him at 2:30am to discuss game strategies. "Once, at 2:30 in the night, he texted me and asked, 'You up?' He drew a field on paper and discussed with me about potentially dismissing David Warner," Chawla told Shubhankar Mishra on the latter's YouTube channel. This story underscores Sharma's dedication to his role as captain and his commitment to get the best out of his team members.
Chawla praises Sharma's leadership skills
Chawla further praised Sharma's leadership skills, stating, "There's a captain, then there's a leader. He isn't a captain, he is a leader." He highlighted how Sharma led by example in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup. Chawla also emphasized that Sharma gives his team members freedom to perform their best, further solidifying his reputation as an effective leader.
Sharma's successful captaincy in international cricket and IPL
Sharma was appointed as the captain of the Indian cricket team after Virat Kohli stepped down. He led India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which also marked his retirement from T20I cricket. However, he continues to lead India in ODIs and Tests. In addition to his international success, Sharma has also led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles, a record later matched by only Chennai Super Kings.
Chawla's impressive performance under Sharma's leadership
Under Sharma's leadership in the 2023 IPL season, Chawla demonstrated his skills by taking 22 wickets in 16 matches. This achievement placed him as the fourth-highest wicket-taker of the season. Despite their strong performance, Mumbai Indians were unable to secure a playoff win against Gujarat Titans. The team later saw a change in leadership with Hardik Pandya succeeding Sharma as captain before the start of IPL 2024.
