The India vs England series was a test for Rohit Sharma and Co in many ways. Not only did India face an opponent who had won almost everything that came their way in recent years, the hosts were also missing top stars. Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami missed the entire series for various reasons, while injuries and poor form ruled out other big names. India made their debut for the likes of Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Akash Deep and Rajat Patidar and still closed the series with one match to go. Going into the final Test of the series, India leads 3-1.
Former Indian cricket team captain Sunil Gavaskar said India should be proud of the achievement. He also added that it is a message to the big names who think India cannot win without them.
“Three years ago, India missed a lot of big names in Australia, but they still managed to pull off a fantastic win, not just at the Gabba. After pulling out all the stops in Adelaide 36 times, they won in Melbourne and drew in Sydney. They fought hard for all but the Sydney Test match. If Rishabh Pant had stayed at the crease for half an hour, India could have won that match too. But the heart and commitment that the young Indian players showed during that tour of Australia showed were visible even this time against England.' Gavaskar said on Sports Tak.
“That's why I always say, you don't need big names… If a big name thinks India won't win without him, these two series have shown that whether you are there or not… Cricket is a team sport It does not depend on one individual.
“Credit must go to the way captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid have led the team. They gave opportunities to the young players, molded them and encouraged them to play their natural game. This shows that whether we Whether we have big names or not, if we have players with a big heart, we can win.”
While many youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Akash Deep, Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan have featured in the series so far, former Australian captain Ian Chappel ensured that Rohit's leadership qualities are also among the most talked about topics. Chappel believes Rohit's ability as a leader is “often overlooked”.
“In the sudden shake-up in the Indian side after a prolonged period of squad stability, Rohit Sharma's leadership is often overlooked. Rohit, in his quiet but efficient manner, is a very different leader to the aggressive and highly visible Ben Stokes. coping with the many personnel changes and the heavy loss of the first Test shows his resilience. He also produced a masterful century when the Indian team needed it, at the start of the third Test, to confirm that he was not a ceremonial captain”, wrote Chappell on ESPNcricinfo.
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