Rohit Sharma and his positive template will do India good

The morning after the storm is always calm. On Sunday, there was sadness and disappointment for Indian cricket fans after the first Test loss to New Zealand. Everyone heard skipper Rohit Sharma speak after the defeat in Bengaluru. His voice was calm and what he spoke made sense. There was no rhetoric, really, a plain presentation of what had happened and what needs to be done in the next two Tests against the Kiwis. To be sure, the sudden rise of the stock of New Zealand as a cricket nation is out of the world, since the women also sealed the ICC Women’s World Cup in Dubai on Sunday.

Back to Rohit and how he assessed the situation, he made no excuses, really. He has been honest in admitting as early as the second day of the first Test, he had read the pitch wrong. For this who have watched Rohit as captain for well over a year now, his leadership is not defensive. To the contrary, he is offensive and willing to take the fight to the rival camp. This is what is needed, since a defensive mindset as leader does no good. A few instances, during the ICC ODI World Cup held in India last year, Rohit had patented an aggressive template. For some who were nursing a kind of hangover after captaincy was taken away from Virat Kohli, Rohit stepped into the role very smoothly. For India to have a good run till the final last year in the World Cup was brilliant. Of course, to be swept away by the Aussies was deflating. Before that, in the ICC Test Championship final as well, India had lost to the Aussies.

Everyone knows, in terms of experience and handling the players, Rohit is the master in what he does as leader. He is clear and backs his players, which was very evident when he led India in the ICC T20 World Cup as well in the US and later in the West Indies this June. As a captain who grabbed the ICC trophy, Rohit is ranked among the pantheons. That he quit T20 international cricket and made way for the next generation is also great timing. The current job which Rohit holds as Test captain is an important. It would be foolish to judge him on one loss in Bengaluru. He offered no excuses and has spoken about bouncing back against New Zealand. That was exciting to hear, since he means what he says.

To come out after a loss and share the details and be honest about it, Rohit is clear, he will not mince words and at the same time move forward. Sport does not teach an athlete to mourn defeats. To the contrary, sport teaches looking ahead and how to bounce back. And that is why Rohit’s press conference verses made sense. He cares for the players and is also ready to own up to mistakes. When he spoke of just two or three hours being the course where India were doing things wrong, he was spot on. After being dismissed for 46, the fightback in terms of runs and batters like Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant returning with a bang was explosive. All that would not have been positive, had it not been for backing from Rohit. He wants his men to be fearless. At the same time, when he allowed Rishabh Pant to bat, despite a knee injury, and the Delhi master blaster hammered 99 runs, it was divine.

Once again, when Rohit spoke on the importance of Pant and how he needs to be protected, it is genuine concern. Pant will miss the second Test, though some are already saying the Indian batting minus Pant will look meek. No, Rohit will not buy that argument, he is going to treat Pant special and ensure he gets fully fit. This injury may not be serious in nature but he has to be given rest and again go through a short rehab programme. Pant is part of India cricket’s macro plans and Rohit has made it clear.

What will be interesting to watch is the fightback in the remainder of the Test series against the Kiwis. A similar pattern emerged earlier in 2024 against England before India dominated the series. The will and skill of this Indian team should not be doubted. In Rohit, the side has a leader who is shrewd and aggressive. Call it modern day cricket or fearless cricket, that’s the template decided upon by Rohit Sharma. If you still want to be harsh on him as India lost one Test, Rohit will not mind it. That care-a-damn attitude of his is special.