Before the upcoming 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Anil Kumble, a former captain of the Indian cricket team, reflected on his experience as a mentor for the Mumbai Indians (MI) during the 2013 edition of the tournament. Kumble provided details about Rohit Sharma‘s leadership approach during that season, which was significant because it was Rohit’s first time leading the franchise in the IPL.
According to Kumble, Rohit was unafraid to express his thoughts and opinions. The 52-year-old also noted that Rohit had a wealth of experience at his disposal. Additionally, Kumble discussed Rohit’s leadership skills during the 2017 IPL season when he was leading a new team.
Anil Kumble on Rohit Sharma’s captaincy
“He was not afraid to say what he had to say. He had plenty of experience around him and he reached out to them as well but then took his own decisions. That’s what you want from a captain. 2017 was a new team and the kind of captaincy we saw from him in terms of defending low scores, that’s when your true leadership comes out,” Kumble said.
Kumble expressed his desire for Rohit Sharma to take on the number four batting position in the forthcoming IPL season, citing the need for experienced middle-order batsmen in the Mumbai Indians team.
“Especially with the current MI team, you need that experience in the middle order. There are some wonderful batters that MI possess, but I think someone like Rohit Sharma in the middle, controlling seven to fifteen overs is extremely critical,” Kumble added.
Rohit Sharma has established himself as the most successful captain in IPL history, having led the Mumbai Indians to five championship victories. The 35-year-old batsman, who joined the MI team in 2011, is preparing for the upcoming season with the goal of securing a historic sixth IPL title for the franchise. The team, which has won the championship five times before, will begin their campaign against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on April 2nd at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
