Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke believes Rohit Sharma was underrated as a leader after the ODI series against Australia. Ahead of the three-match series, Shubman Gill was given the captaincy onus in the 50-over format, replacing Rohit at the helm.
India won the Champions Trophy under Rohit’s leadership. India also won the 2024 T20 World Cup and made it to the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup under his watch.
However, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said it was difficult to have three different captains for three different formats and they have decided to hand over the captaincy baton to Shubman Gill while keeping the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind.
Sharma captained India in 56 ODIs, out of which the team won 42 matches, lost 12, tied one, and had one no-result.
Meanwhile, Rohit and Virat Kohli scored 121 and 74 runs respectively in the third ODI against Australia at the SCG on Saturday and played a key role in India’s comprehensive nine-wicket win.
Michael Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast, “What a way for both players to leave the Australian shores. I’ve always loved the way Rohit plays and he has been a very good player in Australian conditions, which is totally opposite to India. His captaincy is underrated. He was a very, very good short-form captain for India. And he’s one of the best white-ball players to have played. He’s definitely in that conversation.”
Clarke tipped Virat Kohli as the best ODI player of all time, as the talisman has been a match-winner over the years.
“Again, Virat is the best ODI cricketer that I’ve seen, given the amount of games he has won for his team. The batting conditions were a lot better in Sydney, especially batting second, unlike the last two games where they lost the toss and got sent in. If they would have had the best of batting conditions maybe the series would have been different.”
On the other hand, Clarke said the newly appointed captain, Shubman Gill, can take help from the veteran duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and learn as a captain.
“Shubman Gill said it perfectly after the game. He really enjoys having Rohit and Virat in the team. If he needs any help on the field, he can go to them. That’s what you want in Shubman Gill’s position. He doesn’t have to, if he doesn’t feel like it, but if he needs the advice, he’s got them there. It’ll help him as well. It’ll quicken his learning up and tactically, it’ll help him,” said Clarke.
The 2015 World Cup-winning captain backed Kohli and Rohit to play in the 2027 ODI World Cup.
“If they are still making runs and winning games for their team, I think the next World Cup is realistic for both of them. It’s a World Cup as well, where there is maximum pressure, and they know how to win and that’s where you need your senior players to handle those pressure moments. Even if those guys made no runs and they qualify to the semis, I would be backing those two to be the leading run-scorers in the semi-final and the final,” stated Clarke.
Rohit and Kohli will be next seen in action in the three-match ODI series against South Africa.
