"When Klaasen was aggressive against me..." - Axar Patel reveals Rohit Sharma's words after 24-run over in T20 WC final

India allrounder Axar Patel has hailed Rohit Sharma as a 'brilliant captain', saying that the India skipper does not have a set formula and adapts according to the situation.

Axar Patel talked about Rohit Sharma's captaincy methods during last month's T20 World Cup. Under Rohit, India went on to win the T20 World Cup after a long gap of 17 years. The triumph also ended India's 11-year wait for an ICC trophy. India created history in the competition by becoming the first team to win the T20 World Cup without losing a single game.

Rohit's captaincy was spot on throughout the competition as he had the answer for any situation. He was at his absolute best in the final when India had their back against the wall. Chasing 177, South Africa were on 151/4 after 16 overs and needed only 26 runs from the last 4 overs. However, Rohit led his team brilliantly to power India to a monumental 7-run victory.

"Rohit Sharma is a brilliant captain. If you observed his captaincy during the World Cup, you wouldn't find a set formula. In some games, I bowled two overs in the PowerPlay, while in others, Jasprit Bumrah bowled early. There wasn't a specific pattern," Axar Patel told Cricbuzz.

"Similarly, in batting, I didn't always move up the order. In the final, Shivam Dube batted ahead of Hardik Pandya. It was all very tactical, showcasing his ability to think strategically in different situations, determining which player would perform best," he added.

Rohit excels in providing that kind of support: Axar Patel

Speaking further, Axar Patel opened up on what makes Rohit Sharma so special as a captain. He recalled the support he received from the captain when Heinrich Klaasen took him to the cleaners in the final of the T20 World Cup.

In the 15th over of the innings, the South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman smashed Axar Patel for two sixes and as many fours to collect 24 runs from the over. The assault from Klaasen took South Africa to 147 for 4 after 15 overs and brought down the equation to 30 runs from the last 30 overs.

The left-arm spinner finished his quota with figures of 1 for 49. While Axar was disappointed with his performance, captain Rohit was quick to cheer him up with some motivating words. Axar revealed that Rohit not only motivated him but also told him not to worry.

"In the final, when Heinrich Klaasen was aggressive against me, Rohit approached me and reassured me, saying, 'It's alright. You bowled your best. If he hits a good shot, there's not much you can do. Just focus on the next ball'," recalled Axar.

"His support and encouragement boosted my confidence. After I completed the over, he tapped my shoulder and said, 'Well done. Don't worry.' Such conversations from your captain lift you and keep you motivated on the field. Rohit excels in providing that kind of support," he added.

Both Axar and Rohit will be seen in action soon during India's tour of Sri Lanka. Rohit, who has retired from T20Is, will be leading the team in the three-match ODI series. On the other hand, Axar is a part of both the white-ball squads. Suryakumar Yadav will be leading the team in the T20Is.