Gautam Gambhir, who previously opened for India, acknowledged Virat Kohli's strengths as a leader but argued that Rohit Sharma is more effective at guiding the team.
India’s former opening batsman Gautam Gambhir has said that Virat Kohli is good in his captainship, but he feels the vice-captain of the team Rohit Sharma is better at leading the team.
During an appearance on the Star Sports program 'Cricket Connected,' Gautam Gambhir explained that although Virat Kohli is a competent captain, Rohit Sharma operates on a different level. He believes the disparity in their leadership quality is evident when looking at their IPL achievements, suggesting that such a proven track record in the league is a vital indicator of who should lead on the global stage.
The statistics highlight a stark contrast: Rohit Sharma has led the Mumbai Indians to five IPL championships, making him the most decorated captain in the tournament's history. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has struggled to find the same success with Royal Challengers Bangalore; despite having an elite squad, he has yet to win a title, with the team's peak performance under his lead being a second-place finish in 2016.
Gambhir also questioned the board's logic, suggesting that if IPL form is used to select players, then the most successful IPL captain should be given preference rather than using the league only as a benchmark for individual batting and bowling skills.