IND vs ENG 2024: “People confuse Rohit as a laidback cricketer who just lets the game drift” – Nasser Hussain praises Rohit Sharma’s captaincy

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has heaped praise on Rohit Sharma’s captaincy after India won the five-match Test series against the Ben Stokes-led team by 4-1. Hussain reckons people confuse Rohit as a laidback cricketer who just lets the game drift.

After losing the first Test match at Hyderabad by 28 runs, there was pressure on Rohit to deliver as a leader. Hussain reckons Rohit learned and grew as a captain throughout the series for the hosts.

Rohit also led from the front, scoring 400 runs in nine innings of the series at an impressive average of 44.44.

“I think sometimes people confuse Rohit as a laidback cricketer who just lets the game drift. There is a lot of skill, thought, and brilliance about his batting. And I thought he had an excellent series as captain. He himself said in the press conference that he has had to learn and adapt his own style of captaincy at times,” said Hussain on Sky Sports.

Hussain said Rohit corrected his mistake as he didn’t bowl Ravichandran Ashwin with the new ball and allowed Ben Duckett to get settled. However, as the series progressed, Rohit was quick to introduce the veteran off-spinner into the attack.

“Earlier on in the series, he didn’t bowl (Ravi) Ashwin with the new ball. And (Ben) Duckett, sitting there and waiting with his nemesis Ashwin, would get to 60s-70s before Ashwin comes on. But Rohit learnt from something he wasn’t getting right. In cricket, there is a grey area in there, and you do not get things right, sometimes,” he added.

The renowned commentator feels it is not fair to compare Rohit Sharma’s captaincy with his predecessor, Virat Kohli, who was more aggressive as a leader.

“Don’t confuse (Rohit with Virat’s captaincy) because he has come off the back of Virat Kohli. In your face, aggressive captain. In the huddle at Lord’s, saying let’s unleash hell on the England batting lineup. Rohit is not quite the same sort of person. He has that fire burning within,” said Hussain.

Rohit and Virat will be seen in action in the upcoming IPL.