Rohit Sharma is a very shrewd tactician, never forgets his gameplan – Vikram Rathour

India’s former batting coach Vikram Rathour heaped praise on Indian captain Rohit Sharma, stating he is a very shrewd tactician and never forgets his game plan. Rathour observed Rohit from close quarters during his coaching stint.

Rohit recently led India to T20 World Cup glory after the Men in Blue defeated South Africa by seven runs in the final at Barbados. Sharma scored 257 runs in eight matches of the T20 World Cup 2024 at an average of 36.71 and a strike rate of 156.71 and led from the front.

Meanwhile, Rohit took India to the final of the World Test Championship 2023, and the ODI World Cup final but the team could not cross the final hurdle against Australia on both occasions. Furthermore, Rohit led Mumbai Indians to five titles in the Indian Premier League, which is joint most with MS Dhoni.

“He might forget whether he has decided to bat or bowl at the toss, or his phone and iPad in the team bus but he never forgets his gameplan. He is very good at it and is a very shrewd tactician,” Rathour said on the podcast “Find a Way with Taruwar Kohli.”

Rathour continued to shower praise on Rohit Sharma, adding he is a player’s captain. 

“He is a player’s captain. He is invested with the players heavily. I have never seen a captain, who is so invested in team meetings and strategies. He spends a lot of time on the team’s strategy. He is part of the bowlers’ meeting, batters meeting. He wants to sit with the bowlers and batters to try and understand what they are thinking. He invests a lot of time with the players,” Rathour said in the same interaction.

Rathour lauded Rohit for using Jasprit Bumrah at the right time in the World Cup final against the Proteas.

“He is tactically very good as a captain. In the T20 World Cup final, he finished Bumrah’s over early. A lot of people must have questioned that decision but that decision put us in the situation, where 16 was needed in the last over. His tactical decisions on the field are spot on. Sitting outside It surprises you as a coach as well. We from outside sometimes think what he is doing but then you realise what he has done after a while,” Rahtour concluded.

Rohit Sharma will lead India in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh.