Virat Kohli’s childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma has opined on the benefits of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s presence in the Indian team, as they can act as guiding angels for new captain Shubman Gill, especially with all the international experience they have.
Indian youngster Shubman Gill has been cited as the captain of all formats for India, and it seems to be the right decision for the Indian management to appoint him as the Indian captain for the ODI tour of Australia, as he will receive guidance and supervision from his senior professionals, who are still part of the team.
Shubman has also often been seen in long and intense conversations with former captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma during matches and during their time in the dugout.
Former coach believes Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will take Shubman Gill to the top
In a recent interview with PTI, Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma reflected on why Shubman Gill would find the presence of the Indian great very useful and would learn a lot from him.
“This will be very useful for Shubman,” Sharma said.
“If you remember when Virat took over the captaincy, Mahi (MS Dhoni) was there; he used to guide him and help him a lot. If you remember, in the last over, when Kohli went back to the field at long-on, Mahi used to take over the captaincy from behind the wicket,” recalled Rajkumar Sharma.
He said, “You become like an elder brother, this role will now have to be played by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for Shubman Gill, because they are very experienced players. They have done very well for the country; I would say that they are legends. So, having them in the team will always be beneficial for the team and Shubman.”
Virat Kohli looked active on the field in Sydney
Unlike the last two matches, Virat looked more engaged in the third match as the ball seemed to follow him wherever he went. From stopping Mitchell Marsh’s bullet shot at cover to taking sharp catches in unconventional positions near the leg umpire, Kohli has been everywhere.
Matt Short was in disbelief as Kohli took a sharp catch after Short almost drilled the ball down the leg side. Apart from capturing their movements on the ball, Kohli has been seen talking with the bowlers and advising them about the conditions. He has played leadership roles on many occasions here in Sydney.
Rohit Sharma proved his impact in Adelaide; Is it Kohli’s turn in Sydney?
The two Indian legends will have to perform to restore their places in the Indian team and keep their chances alive till the next World Cup in 2027. Rohit Sharma finally broke the shackles and scored a brilliant half-century, becoming India’s highest scorer in Adelaide.
However, for Virat Kohli, it has been a nightmare of a series so far, as he was out for two consecutive ducks in the last two matches. In Sydney, Kohli will play for the last time on Australian soil and the batsman will want to take advantage of this last opportunity.
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