Exclusive: I Am Really Happy For Rohit Sharma: Childhood Coach Dinesh Lad On Rohit's Appointment As India's Captain In All Formats

Dinesh Lad said he was delighted to learn that Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian team in all three formats of the game.

On February 20, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named Rohit Sharma as the captain of India’s Test squad for a couple of Tests versus Sri Lanka, the 34-year-old will become India’s 35th Test captain.

The Indian team will embark on a new chapter in red-ball cricket under the leadership of Rohit as they take on Sri Lanka in the first Test on Friday (March 4) at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali.

Rohit Sharma’s journey to India’s Test captaincy

It was a roller-coaster ride for Rohit, who made his Test debut in November 2013, to become India’s red-ball skipper. Two and a half years ago, the Mumbai player wasn’t even guaranteed a place in India’s playing XI in Test cricket.

Rohit strived in the oldest format in his initial days when he would bat in the middle-order, where he averaged  39.62 batting between No. 3 and No. 6. It was only his elevation in India’s opening slot that paid rich dividends for his Test career.

In 27 innings, Rohit has amassed 1462 runs at an average of 58.48 since the time he opened the innings against South Africa in the three-match Test series at home in 2019.

During India’s tour of England in 2021, which is yet to be completed, the Hitman was phenomenal with the bat, he scored 368 runs from eight innings at an average of 52.57.

The Indian opener registered his first overseas Test hundred in the Oval Test, he made 127 off 256 balls, his innings was laced with 14 fours and a six as India notched up a commanding total of 466, with a lead of 367 and eventually won the match by 157 runs to lead 2-1.

I am really happy for Rohit Sharma: Dinesh Lad

Before the world could see the glimpses of Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Lad who was the childhood mentor of the current Indian skipper saw the talent in him right from his school days. Lad said he is very happy for his ward to lead the Indian team in all formats and called him a compact batter in Test cricket.

“My reaction has to be contented as he is the same boy whom I have seen growing up since his childhood and to watch him become India’s captain in all three formats makes me delighted. He has attained a high level in his career and I am really happy for him,” Lad told Cricket Addictor. 

“I think it took him a long time to settle in the red-ball format. He has performed well in all the Test matches he played in the last one year against England both home and away. The way he is batting in this format I find him the most compact batsman,” he further said. 

Lad said that seldom does he speak with Rohit as he allows the player to have his own space but he did congratulate him when he was named India’s Test captain.

“I don’t have much interaction with him on a regular basis and we don’t talk much regarding his technique. I just wished him congratulations and asked him to do well in his new role, other than that there isn’t anything to talk about,” he said. 

Rohit won the Asia Cup and Nidahas Trophy (Tri-series) as India’s white-ball captain and just after he was named India’s new white-ball skipper, India swept New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka 3-0 in the T20I series at home. The 34-year-old has also won five IPL titles with Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

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