IND vs SL 2022: Rohit Sharma had an excellent debut as Test captain – Sunil Gavaskar

 

Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar lauded Rohit Sharma for making a successful debut as India’s Test captain. India defeated Sri Lanka by a massive margin of an innings and 222 runs, which is their second-biggest win against the Island nation. Thus, Rohit Sharma became the second Indian captain to win his maiden Test by an innings after Polly Umrigar, under whom India beat NZ by an innings & 27 runs in Mumbai BS in 1955/56.

Rohit scored only 29 runs but he was able to rotate his bowlers and set the right field. Ergo, whatever he touched turned to gold as the Test match was wrapped up in three days. As this was Rohit’s first Test match as a leader, there were doubts about how he would go about his business however he was able to make the most of his experience and did a fine job for the team.

Rohit has savored great success as a white-ball captain and he will be tested as a leader in foreign conditions as a Test skipper. The Little Master rated Rohit’s captaincy as 9.5 out of 10 in the opening Test against Sri Lanka.

“Excellent debut (as captain). When you win inside three days, it tells you your team has been superior. More importantly, when India was fielding, the bowling changes were very impressive. The catches were going to exactly where the fielders were. The fielders did not move much. What does it tell you? Spot on-field placing,” Sunil Gavaskar told Star Sports.

“Even the bowling changes, you could possibly argue that the Ravindra Jadeja in the first innings was brought on a little later but at the end of the day, the team has won with 2 days to spare. “I would give him 9.5 out of 10.”

On the other hand, former Indian fast bowler Ajit Agarkar also hailed Rohit Sharma’s captaincy in the first Test match. Agarkar added that the home conditions helped Rohit in his maiden Test match as captain.

“He did one of the unbelievable things. He enforced the follow-on, which doesn’t happen that often in cricket these days. And rightly so, plenty of runs and he wanted to get the game done,” Agarkar said.

“Rohit is doing things his own way, a lot more laid back than Virat was. Virat’s numbers as Test captain are unbelievable as well. India are doing well at home. Rohit has started in the right fashion. Sometimes home conditions give you more breathing space and he’s got a good side as well.”

The second Test match will be played in Bengaluru from Saturday.