“Full expectation” on Rohit Sharma to take Indian cricket to newer heights – Virat Kohli’s childhood coach

Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma says he has “full expectation” on the team’s new white-ball captain and Kohli’s likely Test leadership successor Rohit Sharma to take the team to newer heights.

Sharma says he has faith on Rohit, the experienced opening batter and longstanding member of the team’s leadership group, to ensure India stay on the path of success in all formats of the game.

Rohit Sharma has been named India’s new ODI and T20I skipper and will be taking over the side on a full-time basis from the upcoming home series versus the West Indies.

It is believed the elegant opening batter is also going to be appointed the team’s new Test match captain after Kohli decided to relinquish his post following the 2-1 series loss in South Africa last month.

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There have been discussions and debates in this regard among fans and experts, with multiple names brought up for reckoning over the last few weeks. But for Sharma, there is little doubt that Rohit is the best candidate to replace Kohli at the helm.

Rohit Sharma could be India’s new Test captain.

“I don’t think there is any contender apart from Rohit Sharma because there is no other player whose place is certain in all three formats,” Sharma said during a discussion on India News.

“So I believe he is the better choice and he has done excellent captaincy in the IPL and whenever he has got a chance for the Indian team. I have full expectation that he will take the Indian team to newer heights,” he added.

Rohit Sharma should get the team he wants – Rajkumar Sharma

During the discussion, Kohli’s coach also said Rohit Sharma should have a say in selection matters and get the team he wants to take on the field. Sharma says every captain has certain ideas and individuals in mind and should be allowed a sense of freedom to pick and choose his men following discussions with the national selectors.

Having seen Indian cricket closely, Sharma, who is a famous coach in Delhi circuit, added it becomes important that everyone involved in the decision-making is on the same page. This, apart from the five selectors and captain, includes the head coach Rahul Dravid.

“Every captain has his own choice and every captain desires to get the players he wants and generally that happens as well,” he said.

“It becomes easy if Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid are on the same page, if the captain and coach want a particular team, the selectors feel it right to give them that team. This should happen also and I feel that will happen as well,” Sharma concluded.

Also Read: The two sides of Rohit Sharma taking over as ODI captain

Rohit Sharma was due to take charge of the white-ball side with the ODI leg of the just-concluded tour of South Africa. But the opener couldn’t travel with the team due to an untimely hamstring injury.

In his absence, his deputy KL Rahul stepped up to the table and oversaw a disappointing 3-0 series whitewash in Paarl and Cape Town.