Selflessness defines a leader in Rohit Sharma’s captaincy rulebook and that’s why he has no hesitation in calling himself the “least important person” in the Mumbai Indians team, the most successful franchise in IPL's history.
Indian cricket will hit the restart button with the IPL from September 19 in the UAE even as the world continues its frenzied battle to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
The man, who led Mumbai Indians to four titles, knows that as captain, it will not just be about him getting back into the groove after a forced seven-month break.
“I believe in a theory that when you are captain, you are the least important person. Others become more important in the larger scheme of things. It works differently for different leaders but as far as I am concerned, this theory works for me,” Rohit told PTI in an exclusive interview. Suresh Raina recently compared his cool quotient to that of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He prefers to play down the comparison but there is one undeniable similarity between the two — Rohit can also remain as unfazed as the former India captain in the most difficult of situations.
“Not showing anger is not a conscious effort,” he laughs.
“That’s a natural instinct that you have and you don't try and be someone that you are not. Try and be yourself all the time,” he said.
“You do get angry, lose temper at times but it’s important not to show it to your teammates. Hiding your emotions is the most crucial part.”
The Indian vice-captain believes that there is “enough time” before the IPL starts and he would slowly build on his strength, stamina and skills during the next one month after the long lay-off.
“Hopefully, the gym will open this week and I can start my indoor (strength training) sessions. Right now, due to Mumbai monsoons, you can’t train outdoor. I am planning to write a letter to MCA (on using indoor facilities),” he said.
Having won an Asia Cup in Dubai in 2018, he has a fair idea about what awaits his team next month in terms of conditions.
Rohit said the plan is to build up slowly after being away from his bat for the longest he can remember.
“We have lot of time in our hands...I will be taking it slow. Luckily, I don’t think there is any rush that I need to show. We have enough time. I will work on getting back to the ground slowly because the temperature in Dubai is 40 degrees. It’s not easy,” he said.
