Rohit Sharma's Tactical Brilliance and Batting Mastery

Indian captain Rohit Sharma's strategic prowess in white-ball cricket places him alongside the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni, according to former head coach Ravi Shastri. Shastri believes Rohit will be remembered as a batting titan across generations. Recently, Rohit led India to their second T20 World Cup title, ending a decade-long ICC trophy drought with a victory over South Africa in the final at Barbados. With 49 wins in 62 matches, Rohit has surpassed Dhoni's record of 41 victories in 72 T20I games. Shastri praised Rohit's tactical skills, stating he ranks among the best captains ever, comparable to Dhoni.

Dhoni's leadership brought India victories in three ICC tournaments: the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy. Shastri pointed out that both Dhoni and Rohit are on equal footing regarding white-ball tactics. He highlighted Rohit's exceptional strategic decisions during the T20 World Cup, where India won eight of their nine matches.

Shastri pointed out Rohit's ability to make crucial decisions, such as when to bring in key players like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, or Axar Patel. This skill was particularly evident during the World Cup final, when South Africa needed just 30 runs off 30 balls. Rohit's leadership guided India to a stunning comeback victory. Bumrah bowled two tight overs, Pandya took a vital wicket, and Suryakumar Yadav's spectacular catch dismissed David Miller in the final over.

Shastri also lauded Rohit's batting, describing him as one of the greatest white-ball cricketers of all time. Rohit's record includes 14,846 runs, three double centuries, 33 hundreds, and 87 fifties in ODIs and T20Is. He has also won the ICC Men's T20 World Cup twice (2007 and 2024) and the ICC Champions Trophy (2013). Rohit holds the record for the most sixes in T20Is and has scored the joint-most T20I centuries (five), alongside Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.

Shastri admired Rohit's explosive batting and his ability to play big shots quickly without sacrificing technique. Rohit's powerful and dynamic batting at the top of the order, including three double-hundreds in ODIs, sets him apart. Shastri concluded that Rohit's skill against short-pitched balls and his overall batting prowess make him a standout player in white-ball cricket.