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The ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 has witnessed an electrifying start with India showcasing remarkable performances in their first three matches, emerging victorious each time. While the entire team has played a pivotal role in this stellar performance, it is the leadership of Rohit Sharma that has undeniably stood out.
As India next prepares to face Bangladesh in their fourth match, the praise for Rohit’s captaincy continues to pour in. Australia’s legendary cricketer Ricky Ponting, who himself is an iconic figure in the world of cricket, has also voiced his admiration for India skipper’s leadership qualities and even provided insight into why he believes Rohit is a better captain to lead India than Virat Kohli.
Ricky Ponting’s legacy
Ponting is a name synonymous with cricketing excellence and leadership par excellence. He is only the second captain to win two ODI World Cups twice after West Indies legend Clive Lloyd, In his illustrious career, Ponting represented Australia in 375 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 168 Test matches, accumulating a staggering 27,082 runs across both formats and boasting 71 international centuries.
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Ponting’s heaps praises on Rohit Sharma
In a recent interaction with the International Cricket Council (ICC), Ponting shared his thoughts on Rohit’s captaincy and didn’t hold back on his admiration for the Indian cricketing maestro.
“He’s very laid back, Rohit. Very laid back with everything he does. You can even see that by the way that he plays. He’s a pretty laconic sort of batsman as well, and that’s the way he is both on and off the field,” said Ponting.
Ponting explains why Rohit Sharma is a better fit for captaincy role than Virat Kohli
Ponting went a step further to explain why he believes Rohit is a better fit for captaincy when compared to Virat, who led India in the 2019 ODI World Cup. His analysis highlighted the differences in their personalities and leadership styles of both the cricketers.
“Someone like Virat, who is a bit more heart-on-the-sleeve, and probably listens to the fans and plays up with the fans a little bit more, someone with his personality would probably find it a bit harder. But I think Rohit will be fine with it. He’s a terrific bloke and has been a great player for a long time, and he’s done a great job as the leader of India,” explained Ponting.
