Rohit Sharma confesses being desperate for India captaincy during Virat Kohli's tenure

Veteran Indian opening batter Rohit Sharma has opened up about his struggles to become captain of the national cricket team in all three formats of the game.

In a conversation with journalist Vimal Kumar, the 38-year-old batter revealed that he once doubted whether he would ever lead the Men in Blue.

Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket on Wednesday, May 7. He made the announcement just ahead of the five-match series against England.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

After stepping away from T20Is following India’s World Cup triumph last year, the 38-year-old will focus on captaining the national team in ODIs.

Sabko Young Captain Chahiye Hota Hai - Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma said that there were times when he felt the team would prefer a younger captain, someone who could lead for a decade or more.

Rohit admitted that he initially feared he might not get the chance to lead the team. However, he expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity he received.

“Haan mujhe laga aise. Kabhi kabhi hota hai sabko young captain chahiye hota hai. Jo 10 saal, 15 saal captaincy kare toh mujhe aise laga ki abb mujhe na mile. But I am forever grateful ki mujhe mauka mila [Yes, that's what I felt.

"Sometimes everyone wants a young captain—someone who can lead for 10 to 15 years. So I thought maybe I won’t get the opportunity. But I’m forever grateful that I did,” Rohit said.

Mai 10 Saal Captaincy Nahi Kar Sakta Hun - Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma admitted that he may not have a decade-long tenure as captain, but added that he was determined to make the most of the time. He wanted to maximize his potential and give his best during his captaincy, no matter the duration.

“Mujhe bhi pata hai mai 10 saal captaincy nahi kar sakta hun. But jo bhi time mujhe milega, I have to make the most of it. Kaise bhi karke I have to get the full potential out (I also know I can’t captain for 10 years. But whatever time I do get, I have to make the most of it. No matter what, I have to bring out my full potential),” Rohit added.

Rohit Sharma Played His Last Test for India During the MCG Match

The veteran batter concluded his Test career as one of India's most reliable batters in the latter part of his career. He amassed 4,301 runs in 67 Test matches at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 fifties.

Rohit missed the first Test in Perth last year due to the birth of his second child, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul filling in as openers. He returned for the second Test and batted lower down the order before regaining his opening spot in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne.

However, he decided to drop himself for the Sydney Test. India won the first Test of the series under Jasprit Bumrah’s captaincy but lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by 3-1.

Also read: England players scared to death amid India-Pakistan war; 2 players demand evacuation from PSL