"This is the legacy Rohit Sharma will leave behind" - Sanjay Manjrekar hails Indian captain after dramatic Day 4 of IND vs BAN 2024 2nd Test
Former batter Sanjay Manjrekar hailed Indian captain Rohit Sharma's positive intent after the hosts came up with a sensational batting on Day 4 of the Kanpur Test against Bangladesh on Monday, September 30. Manjrekar said that the selfless approach that Rohit has brought to Indian cricket is the legacy that he will leave behind as captain.
India scored 285-9 in just 34.4 overs on Day 4 of the Kanpur Test against Bangladesh. After two days of the Test were lost to weather conditions, Bangladesh resumed their first innings on 107-3. Despite Mominul Haque's unbeaten 107, they were bowled out for 233. India then broke several records before declaring their first innings.
During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar credited Rohit for instilling a positive, win-at-all-costs attitude in the team. He also praised the Mumbai cricketer for walking to talk and thus leading by example. Manjrekar commented:
"This is the legacy that Rohit Sharma will leave behind as captain. This is how he thinks. A strong team, which is one of the top two sides in the world, they also showed the champion's approach, realizing so much time has been lost. And he leads by example, exactly how he did in the 50-overs World Cup. So, this is what Rohit Sharma will leave behind as his contribution to Indian cricket.
"You do something only for the team and play to win. He does not mind in the process, like in the 50-overs World Cup... He didn't get a big hundred on anything like that. Even here, was quite happy to put his wicket on the line and suddenly we have a Test match which India could win. You have to applaud Rohit Sharma for that," the 59-year-old former India batter went on to add.
After Bangladesh were bowled out for 233, Rohit (23 off 11) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (72 off 51) added 55 in 3.5 overs. KL Rahul also contributed a brisk 68 off 43 balls, while Virat Kohli made 47 off 35.
Rohit Sharma as captain: Leading from the front
Rohit was the second-leading run-getter in the 2023 ODI World Cup. In 11 matches, he smashed 597 runs at an average of 54.27 and an excellent strike rate of 125.94, with one hundred and three half-centuries.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup, which India won, the Hitman was the Men in Blue's leading run-getter. In eight matches, he slammed 257 runs at an average of 36.71 and a strike rate of 156.71. In the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC), the opener has hit 734 from 19 innings at an average of 40.77, with three hundreds and as many half-centuries.