Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir already producing the magic

The next time an Englishman like Michael Vaughan talks of Bazball, just toss him the scorecard of the second Test between India and Bangladesh. It will shut him up. From rainy Kanpur to sunny Kanpur, there were many shades one got to see as Rohit Sharma plotted one of the most stirring Test wins where rain had played havoc for over two days. For all those who still rave about Rohit the inspirational leader who guided India to the ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies this summer, his leadership in the most romantic format – Test cricket – has been dominating.

The moment India won the T20 World Cup, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja said they are quitting T20 cricket. It made fans sad, but the timing was great. At the same time, when coach Rahul Dravid, a selfless soul walked into sunset, he left many teary-eyed. Dravid moved on, he had won an ICC Trophy for India and had so many reasons to be happy. He is now back with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and is happy.

But the big deal is how Rohit Sharma was not in a celebratory mood for long and had to get back to work. What one got to see from the Mumbaikar and his working relationship with new coach Gautam Gambhir reflects a high degree of professionalism. Old timers can curse T20 cricket and how an overdose of franchise-based cricket the world over is ruining cricket. Don’t believe that. Team India has shown that every form of cricket, Tests, ODIs and T20 can exist. Such is the strength and depth today in Indian cricket, fielding two teams on the same day is no problem.

Back to Rohit Sharma, it is wonderful to see a 37-year-old man so fit, so inspirational, being a leader who brings the best out of the young boys and seasoned pros like R.Ashwin, now 38, and Ravindra Jadeja, 35. Cricket fans are a discerning lot, they consume cricket non-stop. They had watched Rohit lead Mumbai Indians with relish when the team won five IPL titles. And when Rohit took over the mantle from Virat Kohli, it was clear he was ready for the job. For all the lies peddled about there being differences between him and Kohli in the dressing room, Rohit has shown he is a simpleton who puts team above self.

He bats in a way he scores runs not for his own records but how it can help India win. He did that in the ICC ODI World Cup last year, then in the T20 World Cup and now the Test series against a pedestrian side from Bangladesh. For all those who have heard R.Ashwin, Jadeja and even Jasprit Bumrah speak during and after the Kanpur Test, one thing stands out, Rohit Sharma has instilled faith and to go for the proverbial kill. The new part, how he has struck a partnership with fresh coach Gautam Gambhir. All those who have watched Gambhir the cricketer play for India and then in the IPL will speak with respect. At the same time, the way Gambhir has evolved as a coach and mentor has been fascinating.

He had been with KKR (Kolkata Knight Riders), then Lucknow Super Giants, before returning to KKR in IPL 2024. He guided the team to another IPL trophy win this summer in melting Chennai.  From there to becoming coach of Team India, Gambhir wanted his own support staff. Nothing wrong in that, since he has to face flak if things go wrong. Yet, when one rewinds and reflects on how India won the Kanpur Test, it is clear Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir are working together. The transition, so to say, has been smooth. And for Rohit to handle seasoned stars like Ashwin and Jadeja and also bring the best out of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and even KL Rahul, speaks a lot.

What about Rohit and Virat Kohli? This is most defining, two icons of Indian cricket embracing each other on the field.