World Cup winner Suresh Raina has bestowed high praise on India captain Rohit Sharma, drawing an illustrious comparison to the legendary MS Dhoni, in the wake of India's triumphant series win against England in Ranchi. Under Rohit's astute leadership, India secured a commanding 3-1 series lead with a resounding 5-wicket victory in the fourth match, earning accolades for his captaincy skills. Raina, in his conversation with the Times of India, lauded Rohit for his visionary approach and nurturing of young talent, much in the vein of Dhoni's celebrated mentorship.
"He is the next MS Dhoni. He has done well. He has been giving a lot of chances to youngsters the way MS Dhoni did. I played a lot of cricket under MS Dhoni. Sourav Ganguly supported his team a lot. Then MS Dhoni came and led from the front. Rohit is going in the right direction. He is a brilliant captain," Raina was quoted as saying.
Rohit Sharma lauded for trusting youngsters
Raina highlighted Rohit's propensity for empowering the youth, a strategy that echoes Dhoni's tenure, where fresh faces were often given the stage to prove their mettle. According to Raina, Rohit's captaincy is not just effective but also inspirational, setting a brilliant example for future generations. He underscored Rohit's strategic masterstroke in giving Dhruv Jurel an opportunity, a decision that paid off spectacularly as Jurel became a pivotal figure in the fourth Test against England.
Moreover, Raina commended Rohit's adeptness in team management and rotation, which ensures that players remain in peak condition without succumbing to burnout. This was exemplified by the rest given to Jasprit Bumrah during the fourth Test, paving the way for Akash Deep's remarkable debut performance. Such decisions, Raina noted, are a testament to Rohit's sagacious leadership and his ability to handle the pressures of captaincy with remarkable finesse.
"I want to give credit to Rohit Sharma. He first gave Sarfaraz the chance and then made Jurel part of the team," said Raina.
"Rohit has been amazing with his planning. He has been giving a lot of chances to the youngsters. The way he is rotating the players is something I have never seen in the last couple of years. Whenever the fast bowlers came in the last couple of years, we have seen injuries. But Rohit has been managing that really well. Being a captain is not easy, especially when you are playing in India. Earlier, we used to have one fast bowler and 3-4 spinners. Now, he is bringing two fast bowlers. He brought in Siraj and Bumrah. He sent Bumrah back and managed his workload well and then handed debut to Akash Deep. Rohit has been handling the pressure and players really well," he added.
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