Fans praised Team India opener Rohit Sharma for his consistent energy display on the field during the second ODI against New Zealand. With India finding it difficult to defend an even score, the captain’s lively presence triggered chants from the crowd of “How should our captain be…Rohit Sharma should be”.
Daryl Mitchell played a brilliant unbeaten 131 off 117 balls as New Zealand scored 285 runs in 47.3 overs to beat India by seven wickets in the second ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium. Earlier, India scored 284 runs for seven wickets thanks to a century from KL Rahul, who scored 112 runs off 92 balls.
Rohit Sharma is continuously getting huge support from fans.
The home team struggled to defend the total, leading to a popular chant from a section of the crowd: “How should our captain be…Rohit Sharma should be.”
As India struggled to defend the equal score, people were chanting “How should our captain be…Rohit Sharma should be like”.
I want to move forward, but every match I see fans talking like this in the stadium. When was the last time a player received so much love after a long time of losing? pic.twitter.com/v4XpYIGhfk
– Kusha Sharma (@kushacritic) 15 January 2026
It is rare for a player to receive such widespread praise so long after stepping away from a leadership role. Rohit has seen this support continue in recent times – first after giving up the IPL captaincy of Mumbai Indians, and now following his decision to hand over the ODI captaincy to Shubman Gill.
This continued fan support underlines Rohit’s enduring popularity and the strong bond he has with supporters across formats and teams. Notably, the selectors have appointed Gill as the ODI captain as part of their planning for the ODI World Cup 2027, two years away.
Rohit Sharma heartbroken by India’s defeat in the second ODI against New Zealand
After India’s defeat, Rohit looked quite disappointed standing near the team dugout. The disappointment was clearly visible on the face of the former Indian captain as the Men in Blue suffered a crushing defeat by seven wickets against New Zealand in the second ODI in Rajkot.
The visiting team achieved the target of 285 runs with 15 balls remaining. Earlier, India had posted a competitive score of 284/7. Rohit Sharma scored 24 runs in 38 balls before being dismissed by Christian Clarke.
After losing the match, Rohit Sharma looked quite disappointed as he saw his ODI team losing so easily. The same team whose playing style he had changed was now disintegrating before his eyes.
This team is not playing the way Rohit taught them to play. pic.twitter.com/lWbj13pPtR
– 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@Rushiii_12) 14 January 2026
KL Rahul helped India recover from a critical situation by scoring unbeaten 112 runs in just 92 balls. Captain Shubman Gill also contributed a half-century and scored 56 runs from 53 balls, but the total ultimately proved inadequate against the Kiwi lineup.
Former India captain achieves major ODI feat in Asia
The 38-year-old player reached an important personal milestone during the second ODI. The former India captain became the seventh player in history to complete 7,000 ODI runs in Asia, a milestone previously achieved by only three players each from India and Sri Lanka.
Rohit has played 165 ODI matches in the Asian subcontinent, in which he has scored 7,016 runs in 162 innings at an average of 49.06 and strike rate of 99.80. His account includes 17 centuries and 39 half-centuries, with a highest score of 264 against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens in November 2014.
His return is certain in the decisive third ODI of the series. The contest is currently tied at 1-1, with the final match to decide the series winner and will be played on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the Holkar Stadium, Indore.
Also Read: Daryl Mitchell is set to replace Virat Kohli to become the world No. 1 ODI batsman after the fall of Rohit Sharma
