Irfan Pathan on How Virat Kohli Can Help New Captain Rohit Sharma

Ind vs WI: Rohit would already be on the back foot during the team selection, but that is where ex-India captain Virat Kohli can help him out.

Ahmedabad: Days ahead of the home series against West Indies, the Indian cricket team has been hit hard by Covid as newly-appointed full-time limited-overs captain Rohit Sharma’s era begins. Rohit would already be on the back foot during the team selection, but that is where ex-India captain Virat Kohli can help him out reckons ex-allrounder Irfan Pathan. In an interview with The Hindu, Pathan claimed that Kohli may not be the captain but he is a leader and will help Rohit along the way.

“He is not the captain, but as long as he is in the team, he is a leader. He will help the new captain to do the right thing,” Pathan told The Hindu.

Rohit is the most successful captain in the history of IPL and time and again – he has stepped in as and when Kohli took a rest. After a dismal show in South Africa, India would like to get back to winning ways against West Indies in the white-ball home series.

Crediting Kohli for Indian cricketers’ fitness, Pathan stated that they are two different captains and their approaches would be different.

“He sent out the right messages and he took the team’s fitness to another level. Going forward, I am sure he will help out others, especially Rohit Sharma. Every captain contributes in an unique fashion. Kohli had his energy, Rohit will give you calmness,” he added.

In the upcoming series, it would be interesting to see how Rohit leads the side and Kohli’s role in the new set-up.