New Delhi, July 11: Former assistant coach of the Indian cricket team, Abhishek Nair, has praised Rohit Sharma’s captaincy during some of the team’s most challenging moments. He highlighted Rohit’s willingness to take responsibility and his ability to build trust through honest conversations, which helped keep the dressing room united after painful defeats.
Reflecting on his time with the national team, Nair commended Rohit’s leadership. “We had Rohit Sharma as our captain. I remember after the Mumbai Test, he came to the press conference and said, ‘It’s okay. We’ve won many series; we’ve lost this one. I will take responsibility.’ That was Rohit. He always had a way of lightening the atmosphere and ensuring the team stayed together,” Nair stated.
He noted that even when results were not favorable, Rohit showed empathy and reduced pressure on his teammates, boosting their confidence. A notable trait of the former captain was his habit of protecting the dressing room after losses, taking criticism upon himself rather than blaming others.
“Of course, everyone feels sad when India loses. But one thing he did exceptionally well was to care for his players. He considered who was most affected, who hadn’t scored runs, and how he could help them feel better. What I admired most about Rohit was his willingness to take responsibility. He never pointed fingers, saying, ‘You did this’ or ‘You did that.’ Instead, he would raise his hand and say, ‘I failed.’ You would never hear him making excuses or belittling anyone,” Nair added.
The former coach emphasized that Rohit’s impact on the field extended beyond technical decisions. He attributed the foundation of trust in the dressing room to Rohit’s direct communication and genuine concern for his teammates.
“I remember the Sydney Test when Rohit didn’t play. Yet, he came, gave interviews, and said what needed to be said. He never exaggerated anything. That’s why the team trusted him. Even today, if you ask any young cricketer, they will speak fondly of Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. They will tell you that even when he reprimanded them, they took it seriously because they knew it came from a place of trust and genuine care,” Nair remarked.
Abhishek also mentioned, “As a captain, his communication was excellent. Sanju Samson talked about this after being left out of the T20 World Cup final in Barbados. Even though Sanju wasn’t playing, Rohit spoke to him before the toss because he was concerned about how he was feeling. Those tough times were a bit easier because Rohit Sharma was around.”
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