Yuvraj Singh delivers sensational verdict on struggling Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir

Indian cricket icon Yuvraj Singh has recently extended his full support to the under-fire Team India captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir. He hailed Gambhir and Rohit’s leadership skills despite Team India’s embarrassing whitewash in the home Test series against New Zealand and Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 loss to Australia.

Notably, ever since Gambhir took over from Rahul Dravid, India has so far lost six out of 10 Tests, including the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade and an ODI series in Sri Lanka after nearly three decades.

Yuvraj Singh extends support to underfire Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir

Yuvraj Singh has pointed out that his former teammate Gautam Gambhir has just entered the coaching system, so he deserves more time to settle into his new role and prove his impact.

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Reflecting on Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, the two-time World Cup winner has highlighted his remarkable track record, saying he led Team India to 2024 T20 World Cup glory, the 2023 ODI World Cup Final, and the WTC Final in 2023, apart from leading the Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles.

Yuvraj Singh told reporters during an event as quoted by PTI: “Gautam Gambhir needs to be given more time as he has just come into the system. Rohit won us the T20 World Cup, and he was the captain when India reached the ODI World Cup final. Mumbai Indians won 5 IPLs under Rohit's captaincy.”

Yuvraj Singh hails Rohit Sharma's selfless act of stepping down in SCG Test

Yuvraj Singh has stressed that a couple of disappointing series doesn’t define a captain’s legacy while defending Rohit Sharma’s captaincy amidst the heavy criticism. However, the former Indian all-rounder admitted that India’s 3-0 loss to New Zealand in the home Test series was even tougher to swallow for him.

The former Indian all-rounder also hailed Rohit’s selfless and rare act of dropping himself from the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 due to his poor form and giving someone else a chance to prove themselves against Australia. He questioned the critics about how many Indian captains did the same.

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Yuvraj Singh signed off by saying, “Rohit stepped down in the last Test (of BGT) to give someone else the chance. How many captains have done that in the past? I look at what he has done in the last 3-5 years; one tournament can't decide. For me, the series defeat at home was more disappointing, as India losing 3-0 against New Zealand was tougher.”

VIDEO | Former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) backs skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam. He says, "If India wins its good but if they lose, we criticise them. I see the last five years of Rohit Sharma... Gautam Gambhir needs to be given more time. Rohit won us… pic.twitter.com/9NDmczEFTR

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 16, 2025

Rohit Sharma's decline in numbers in Test Cricket

After India’s T20 World Cup triumph last year, Rohit Sharma has suffered both as a batter and as India's captain. In the 2024/25 Test season, the Indian opener amassed just 164 runs in eight matches and 15 innings, with a low average of 10.93, and his highest score was only 52.

It was also a tough year for Rohit as captain, as India lost six Tests, including four at home. He has now only 12 wins, 9 losses, and 3 draws as India’s Test captain. He is currently gearing up for the three-match ODI series against England at home, followed by the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.