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In the absence of stalwarts Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Mohammed Shami, Rohit guided his young battalion to a remarkable series victory.
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Harbhajan not only praised Rohit, the captain, but the off-spin legend also praised Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who were phenomenal in the series.
TimesofIndia.com I caught up with Harbhajan, who played 103 Tests, 236 ODIs and 28 T20Is, and he talked about Rohit, Virat’s leadership in the T20 World Cup, Yuzvendra Chahal’s absence and much more…
Players who will win the IPL title in their debut season as captains
About Rohit Sharma, the captain…
Rohit Sharma is a human being that the entire locker room loves. Rohit Sharma has laid the foundation for this young Indian team. Virat Kohli was not part of the series (England). In the absence of a stalwart like him, the way the youngsters have performed is simply amazing and commendable. This shows that there is no lack of talent in our young people. All they need is a platform. If you look at the series, India were trailing 1-0 and then made a remarkable turnaround to win the remaining matches and the series, and that too without senior players Virat, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and KL Rahul.
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The youngsters stepped forward and seized the opportunity with both hands. Credit must also be given to Rohit – the way he treated and guided these youngsters and showed trust and faith in them. He was just amazing. He is an amazing leader. Be it Yashasvi, Sarfaraz, Shubman (Gill) or Jurel, they all needed a platform and a captain who could propel them forward. They needed a hand on their shoulders and Rohit played that big role very, very well. He was captain and older brother of these young men in the series. He conveyed a message to them: ‘mai aapke saath hun, aap wo kariye jo aapko aata hai’ (I’m with you, do what you know).
Will Rohit Sharma be under pressure in the World T20?
Every time the World Cup comes around, we all put expectations on our team that they will also win games and trophies. There is a lot of talent in this team, no one can point out a single problem in any department, be it bowling, fielding or batting. This team has it all. The only thing this team has to change is the mentality (when it comes to winning the ICC tournament). We need to learn from the past, move forward and make sure we don’t repeat those mistakes. A good team is one that does not repeat mistakes. I hope this team makes sure to reach the final and win the title too. Virat and Rohit will play a very important role for India in the World Cup. Experience always matters.
Players who will win the IPL title in their debut season as captains
Is this the end of the road for Yuzvendra Chahal?
Why do we say or think that it is the end of the road for Chahal? In fact, until now, I haven’t seen anyone with a better leg-spinner or a bigger heart than him. I mean the whole world, not just India. Ye gutthi hai jo sulajhne ka naam nahi le rhi (Why he’s not part of the team remains a mystery.) It would be great if Kuldeep and Chahal played together. They are both experienced players. The couple has done wonders for India. Kuldeep has been very good. He has been taking wickets in every match. He has the confidence that he needs. He now feels that he is where he wanted to be.
How comfortable will Rohit Sharma be playing with Hardik Pandya during Bombay Indians?
Only time will tell. Who will be comfortable or who will not? Mumbai Indians have been a solid and formidable team in IPL. I’m sure they would love to put the controversies behind them and pave the way for the future.
About the BCCI trial incentive…
There is nothing bigger than Test cricket. I am very happy with the steps taken to improve Test cricket or red ball cricket in our country. These measures should have been taken years ago. Whenever star players go to play the Ranji Trophy, people come to watch the match in large numbers. National tournaments also need big stars. In addition to fans, young players will also be able to interact with these star players in the locker room and learn from them.
Your opinion on the removal of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from the BCCI’s annual contract list?
As a player, it is difficult to digest that the step has been taken against him despite having made so many runs or played so much cricket for India. But if we look at this constructively, it will be of great help. This is a learning for many cricketers. Both Ishan and Iyer have a long way to go. They have a great career ahead of them. Both are talented cricketers. I am sure both Iyer and Ishan will soon return to the Indian team and run and win many hearts. They just need to treat this as a lesson. They need to learn and move forward. BCCI is there for all the players. They are doing everything they can for the players.