"why don’t we choose a captain based on IPL performance?"
Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir has compared Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma when it comes to leading the national cricket team.
He called Sharma, the vice-captain of the Indian team “a better captain” than Virat Kohli, the current captain.
Gambhir said: “Virat Kohli is not a bad captain, but Rohit Sharma is a better captain.
“There is a vast difference between the quality of captaincy.”
Gambhir additionally said that the difference between Kohli and Sharma’s record in the Indian Premier League needs to be taken into account.
With five titles to his name, Mumbai Indians captain Sharma is the most successful captain in the history of the lucrative T20 tournament.
While Royal Challengers Bangalore, led by Kohli, has failed to win the title even once.
Since he took over as captain in 2013, the team’s best finish was as runners-up in 2016.
Gambhir continued: “If we choose players based on IPL performance, then why don’t we choose a captain based on IPL performance?
“Else, don’t keep IPL has a barometer for batting and bowling performances as well.”
Making his argument, the Indian cricketer turned politician added:
“If Rohit Sharma doesn’t become India’s captain, it’s their loss, not Rohit’s.
“Yes, a captain is only as good as his team and I completely agree with that, but what are the parameters to judge a captain on who is good and who isn’t?
“The parameters and benchmark should be the same. Rohit has led his team to five IPL titles.
“We keep saying MS Dhoni is India’s most successful captain. Why? Because he has won two World Cups and three IPLs.
“Rohit has won five IPL titles. He is the most successful captain in the history of the tournament.”
“Going forward, it’ll be a shame if he doesn’t get India’s white-ball or just T20 captaincy because he can’t do much more than this.
“He can only help the team he captains to victories. So if he doesn’t become India’s regular white-ball captain, it will be their loss.”
Other Indian cricketers have also pitched in their opinions of the debate.
Parthiv Patel, who has played for RCB under Kohli agreed with Gautam Gambhir.
Patel said that Sharma is better when it comes to reading the game and making decisions under pressure.
Talking about the vice-captain, he continued:
“What we are talking about over here is who can take better decisions, who can read the game better, who can take match-winning decisions under pressure.
“I think Rohit Sharma is slightly better in all these things.”
However, former cricketer Aakash Chopra took a different view of the matter.
He said: “Now is not the time for changes. There is no time for you to build a new team.
“If you want to apply new work ethics or new philosophy, there have to be games.
“If you’re going to play 5-6 T20s before the next T20 World Cup, then I wouldn’t like to fix something that’s unbroken.”
Legendary Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev has also pitched in with his two cents saying:
“One company cannot have two CEOs.”
Indian cricket fans gave their opinion of Gambhir’s claims.
Guys ! I know it's hard to hear for Virat Kohli fans but, Gambhir is right today . Rohit Sharma is far far better captain for team India in T20 than Kohli. Kohli is a world class player, but when it comes to captaincy in shorter formats, he lacks the counter attack capabilities ! pic.twitter.com/hr5RiQerkb
— Kaustuv Dwivedi ?? (@dwivedikaustuv) November 23, 2020
Other users posted:
Acc. to Gambhir , if kohli hand's over his captaincy to Rohit.
.
Indian team: pic.twitter.com/odlGOUfSYJ— SHANE (@Rma_007) November 23, 2020
Don't know why are people even saying that "Rohit Sharma is a better T20 Captain than Virat" ?
Please, you are disrespecting Rohit by comparing him to some random guy.Instead accept the reality that it is misfortune for #TeamIndia that it doesn't have Rohit as its T20 Captain.
— Saish. (@CricketSaish45) November 23, 2020
It is clear that Gambhir’s comments have ignited a debate as to who is the better captain.
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