“Ravi Shastri’s Honest Verdict on Rohit Sharma vs MS Dhoni Captaincy: ‘If You Ask Me Who’s Better…'”
Former head coach Ravi Shastri has praised Rohit Sharma’s tactical skills, comparing them favorably with those of the legendary MS Dhoni. Rohit recently led India to their second T20 World Cup title with a victory over South Africa in Barbados, ending a decade-long ICC event title drought. Rohit now holds the record for the most successful T20I captain, with 49 wins in 62 matches, surpassing Dhoni’s record of 41 victories in 72 games.
On the ICC Review, Shastri stated, “As a tactician, let’s not forget that Rohit has been outstanding. He will be remembered as one of the best captains ever, alongside Dhoni.”
Dhoni guided India to triumph in three ICC tournaments: the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy. Shastri remarked, “If you ask me who’s better, I’d say both are on par when it comes to tactics in white-ball cricket. I can’t give a higher compliment to Rohit than that because of what MS has achieved.”
Shastri also praised Rohit’s tactical prowess during the T20 World Cup, highlighting his ability to make key decisions at critical moments. “Rohit was just outstanding tactically in this year’s T20 World Cup,” he added. Under Rohit’s leadership, India won eight out of nine matches, with one match ending without a result.
Shastri commended Rohit’s ability to manage players like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel effectively. In the World Cup final, India staged a remarkable comeback to defend their total, with Bumrah delivering two crucial overs, Pandya taking a key wicket, and Suryakumar Yadav making a crucial catch.
In addition to his captaincy, Shastri lauded Rohit’s batting prowess. “He is a giant in the white-ball game, one of the all-time greats,” Shastri said. Rohit, who has retired from T20Is following the World Cup, has accumulated 14,846 runs, three double centuries, 33 hundreds, and 87 fifties in ODIs and T20Is. He is also a two-time ICC Men’s T20 World Cup winner and the ICC Champions Trophy winner, holding the record for the most sixes in T20I cricket.
Shastri highlighted Rohit’s explosive batting style and mastery of short-pitched deliveries, contrasting him with Virat Kohli’s finesse. “Kohli is more about finesse and starts along the ground, while Rohit is explosive with the power to clear any ground and take on fast bowlers. He can also destroy spin,” Shastri concluded.
