'Rohit Sharma not superior as a captain' - Graeme Swann's shocking claim after England's humiliation vs India

While Rohit Sharma is receiving praise from all around the world for his performance as a captain in the recently-concluded five-Test series against England, Graeme Swann believes the India captain’s performance was not really superior to his English counterpart Ben Stokes.

Rohit Sharma has been praised for his leadership after India bounced back and won the series 4-1 despite losing the first Test and being without several key players. India were without Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami for the entire series while KL Rahul was also sidelined after the first game. The 28-run defeat in the series opener only put India under more pressure.

With a number of newcomers in the Indian team, not many were expecting them to totally outplay England in the remainder of the series. However, the hosts bounced back in style to win the series with a dominating scoreline. However, Graeme Swann believes Rohit Sharma’s captaincy did not play a big role in India’s win and said that his bowlers did the trick for him.

“I don’t think he has been superior as a captain because his bowlers have done the trick for him. I think he’s got more weapons at his armoury. He’s been good don’t get me wrong, Rohit Sharma, but, I don’t think if you pick this apart and say Stokes has captained badly, I think you are barking up the wrong tree there” Graeme Swann told PTI.

“Rohit Sharma’s bowlers have really come to town for him, come to the party for him, in the last four Test matches, they didn’t in the first one but they have done for the last four,” he added.

Graeme Swann congratulates Ravichandran Ashwin:

Speaking further, Graeme Swann also congratulated Ravichandran Ashwin for his fine performance with the ball in his 100th Test. The fifth Test between India and England in Dharamsala was Ashwin’s 100th Test and he celebrated it by taking a total of 9 wickets including a five-wicket haul in the second innings.

“You know what it’s brilliant, to get a fifer on his hundredth Test match. I have not actually seen him, I was looking to go and congratulate him myself but I will have to do that at the hotel later. Bowling so well and making those early inroads, that was brilliant, possibly one of his best fifers in his 100 Test matches, so you have got to take your hat off to Ashwin,” said Swann.