Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik recently offered a poignant tribute to Rohit Sharma, acknowledging his profound leadership, influence, and remarkable tenure as the captain of the Indian ODI team.
Karthik shared his admiration in an Instagram video, stating, “Rohit Sharma, thank you so much. You were a phenomenal captain — tactically astute, but most importantly, very, very friendly and got along with everyone, making them feel so comfortable. But for me, the legacy that you’ve left as a captain… in those big moments, those big matches, you taught this current team what it takes to win.”
He particularly highlighted Rohit’s aggressive and front-foot approach during high-stakes encounters. “At times we used to take a backward step, but you said, ‘I think we need to press forward, put more pressure on the opponent, take more risks,’ and you didn’t leave it to anyone else. I think you started it with the bat—when in the big matches, you said, ‘I’m going to go harder,’ and that required skill. You got it done, and you did it consistently.”
Under Rohit’s dynamic leadership, the Indian team enjoyed significant success, securing victories in 42 out of 56 ODIs, boasting an impressive winning percentage of 76. His captaincy also saw India clinch two ICC trophies in 2024—the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy—and reach the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup on home soil. Karthik further praised Rohit for fostering young talent and cultivating a resilient team environment, noting, “Asia Cup unbeaten with a young team… You’ve left it in a better place than what it was when you started, and that’s always a great sign of a leader.”
However, this era of captaincy has now concluded. The Indian selectors announced on Saturday the decision to remove Rohit from the ODI captaincy, entrusting the role to young Test skipper Shubman Gill. This change comes ahead of India’s white-ball tour of Australia, with the 2027 World Cup firmly in the selectors’ sights. Shreyas Iyer will serve as Gill’s vice-captain for the upcoming three-match ODI series, scheduled to begin on October 19 in Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne, followed by a five-match T20 series.