Indian skipper Rohit Sharma led team India in the recently concluded ODI World Cup 2023 where team’s skilful performance was there for everyone to see. India produced a thrilling performance during the World Cup group stage matches with their victories one after another but Australia denied India World Cup title by beating them in the final. For the first time, since 2011, India had reached to the final of the World Cup under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. India’s World Cup campaign ended in despondency but there was no doubt about India’s formidable performance. For long, India have been eying the ICC title but it’s been a mammoth challenge for the team. India last won the World Cup under the captaincy of MS Dhoni in 2011, since then it’s been a long wait. Recently, Indian veteran Ravichandran Ashwin brought some analysis between Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni’s leadership. 

“If you take a look at Indian cricket, everybody will be telling you that MS Dhoni is the best captain. (But), Rohit Sharma is an outstanding person, (and) he understands every single player in the team. He knows the likes and dislikes of each of us and has a great understanding. He puts in the effort to know each player personally,” R Ashwin said on Subramaniam Badrinath’s YouTube channel.

Ravichandran Ashwin also talked about not being included into India’s playing XI for the World Cup final against Australia.

“As far as I playing the final is concerned, the team combination and all is secondary. Firstly, it’s about empathy, (and) I keep stressing it a lot. It’s like standing in someone else’s shoes and looking at things from his/her perspective. Had I been in Rohit’s shoes, I would have thought 100 times about altering the (winning) combination. It was going alright for the team, so why rest a fast bowler for three spinners?

“Honestly, I understood Rohit Sharma’s thought process. Playing the final is big, (and) I was preparing for three days in the lead-up. At the same time, I was also prepared to cheer for the side and run in with energy drinks if I was not given the opportunity. I was mentally prepared for that as well,” he said.