India's out-of-favour pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar talked about how good a captain Rohit Sharma is as the veteran batter knows how to bring the best out of his players. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has been notably absent from the national team since 2022, also talked about his bond with India's batting juggernaut Virat Kohli. Despite delivering numerous match-winning performances under the captaincy of both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the veteran bowler is now preparing for a return to competitive cricket in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh T20 League 2025, where he will represent the Lucknow Falcons.
Rohit Sharma is a mature captain: Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Ahead of his team's first match on August 18 against the Noida Super Kings, Kumar shared his insights on the leadership of Rohit Sharma. Sharma, having retired from Test and T20I formats, currently captains India solely in ODI cricket and aims to continue his international career through the 2027 ICC World Cup.
Kumar spoke highly of Sharma's captaincy, praising his ability to bring out the best in his teammates. He pointed out that the Indian skipper has a keen understanding of each player's individual strengths and deploys them intelligently on the field. On a more personal note, Bhuvneshwar mentioned their great bond, describing how Sharma's friendly and approachable demeanor helps cultivate a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere within the team.
“Rohit Sharma is a mature captain who knows how to use his players and how to bring out the best of his players. He understands each player's strengths & uses them well. He also talks to me like a normal friend,” Bhuvneshwar said on the Lucknow Falcons podcast.
Rohit's captaincy tenure for India has been remarkably successful, establishing an impressive record across all formats. In 142 matches under his leadership, India has achieved 103 victories against only 33 losses, with three games ending in a draw and two producing no result. His Test captaincy includes 12 wins from 24 matches, but his T20I record is particularly noteworthy, having guided the team to 49 wins in 62 encounters, resulting in a staggering win percentage of 74.41 per cent.
The 35-year-old also spoke about his relationship with former captain Virat Kohli. The two were recently teammates for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, sharing a dressing room during their victorious IPL campaign earlier this year. The veteran seamer revealed that while their off-field conversations are often personal and centered around family, their dynamic shifts to being purely professional and focused on cricket as soon as they step onto the field.
“When I and Virat meet, we mostly talk about family, but on the field we are professional & committed to cricket during IPL,” he concluded.