VVS Laxman: No need to replace Virat Kohli with Rohit Sharma as limited overs captain

As the limited-overs captaincy thing weighed up with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on two sides, VVS Laxman has shared his verdict saying there is no need for Rohit to replace Kohli at the moment. After Royal Challengers Bangalore lost their way in the playoffs stage once again and Mumbai Indians won their fifth title, […]
 

As the limited-overs captaincy thing weighed up with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on two sides, VVS Laxman has shared his verdict saying there is no need for Rohit to replace Kohli at the moment.

After Royal Challengers Bangalore lost their way in the playoffs stage once again and Mumbai Indians won their fifth title, the perennial debate of Rohit vs Kohli captaincy credentials resurfaced once again. That further escalated when India lost the first two ODIs without properly showing up, but VVS Laxman has none of that.

“No doubt he is a wonderful captain. Whenever he led in Virat’s absence he has been successful,” said Laxman at the virtual launch of ‘The Hitman: The Rohit Sharma Story’, written by Vijay Lokapally and G Krishnan.

“Leading a franchise to five titles is not easy. The way he has built the team (Mumbai Indians) and handles tough situations has been superb. He has all the qualities to be a successful captain for India but you don’t have to necessarily look for a change. Virat has had phenomenal success and is doing a fantastic job. I don’t see any requirement to make a change.”

Also Read: Mitchell Starc Granted Compassionate Leave; To Miss Last Two T20Is Against India

Laxman likens Rohit’s career to his own

If not for an untimely hamstring injury, Rohit Sharma would’ve been in Australia, opening for India in the Test series. Now that dream is almost over, Rohit can look at the England series to establish himself in the red-ball cricket for which he doesn’t have many chances left. And Laxman stated that the Mumbaikar reminds him of his formative years.

“His career reminded me of my career, asked to shift in the batting order. Not easy to open against quality fast bowlers without having opened earlier. He can put pressure on the bowlers once he gets his eye in,” he said.

“But he has been bogged by injuries. He is talented enough to succeed as a Test match player. The first time I saw him was in 2005 in the KSCA tournament. He had a lot of time against the fast bowlers, but struggled against the spinners.

“A year later I saw him so improved and he was clearing the boundary with such ease at No. 6, changing the momentum of the game. I knew he had the ability to do something special. We struggle to get a double hundred in Test cricket and he has done it three times in One-day cricket.”