South Africa legend Jonty Rhodes recently shared his thoughts on India captain Rohit Sharma and his approach to the game. The former cricketer stated that Rohit has the ability to achieve consistent success at the highest level and added that his qualities have helped him build a remarkable international career.
Team India began the series with a seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. Rohit, however, endured a disappointing outing in the opening match, scoring 16 runs off 16 balls before being run out following a mix-up with skipper Shubman Gill.
He Would Like To Walk… - Jonty Rhodes on Rohit Sharma's Unique Approach to Cricket
Jonty Rhodes said that working with Rohit Sharma during his time as Mumbai Indians' fielding coach from 2009 to 2017 was a memorable experience. Rhodes stated that the former India captain prefers understanding the conditions in the middle rather than spending long hours on intense training sessions.
"I keep telling journalists I had the best job in the world. I got to watch Rohit Sharma practice. He would like to walk through the middle and feel it, rather than have a massive workout session. He just makes it look way too easy. He's not born with superior talent, but the consistency in approach, he's always been like that," he said during a conversation on Prakhar Gupta's YouTube channel.
You Don't Have to Be an MS Dhoni or a Virat - Jonty Rhodes Praises Rohit Sharma's Captaincy
Jonty Rhodes highlighted Rohit Sharma's relaxed and genuine personality. Rhodes said that Rohit has remained true to himself throughout his career and believes his success as a leader comes from not trying to copy former captains such as MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli.
"His leadership style has been the same. He's actually very funny. He's got some great chirps on the stump mic and he gives his teammates a hard time. That personality has been throughout. It goes back to that. You don't have to be an MS Dhoni or a Virat. You just have to be yourself. They're all so different, all the three and successful because they have consistency," he reflected.
Rohit has built an impressive record as captain. He led the Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles and guided India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy, making him one of the most successful captains in modern cricket.
Jonty Rhodes Compares Rohit and KL Rahul
Jonty Rhodes also compared Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul for making batting look effortless. Rhodes said that Rahul appears to be the more natural athlete, but Rohit's timing and shot-making ability make him one of the most enjoyable batters to watch.
"Rohit is a bit like KL Rahul. Makes it look so easy. But Rohit is not the greatest looking athlete compared to KL. But when he hits the ball with effortless timing, it is captivating when you watch him bat."
Although Rohit scored only 16 runs against Afghanistan before being run out following a mix-up involving Shubman Gill and Rashid Khan, he still reached a major milestone. The India captain crossed 16,000 international runs as an opener in 359 matches.
