Rohit Sharma's Reluctant Captaincy: A Behind-the-Scenes Revelation by Sourav Ganguly

In a recent interview, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly unveiled a surprising revelation about Rohit Sharma's initial reluctance to assume full-time captaincy after Virat Kohli's resignation. During the tumultuous period of late 2021 and early 2022, Kohli voluntarily stepped down as T20I captain while expressing his willingness to continue leading in other formats.

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The selectors believed in having a single captain for white-ball cricket and swiftly appointed Rohit as the captain for ODIs and T20Is. The decision to remove Kohli from the ODI helm surprised many, and subsequently, Kohli relinquished the Test captaincy after India's series loss in South Africa. Despite being named the Test captain, Ganguly, then the BCCI President, revealed that Rohit was initially hesitant to embrace the full-time captaincy role.

Ganguly had to persuade Rohit to accept the responsibility as there were no clear alternatives for the position. Now, Ganguly expresses satisfaction that Rohit, who is currently scoring runs at the top order and leading effectively, has embraced the captaincy.

"Rohit [Sharma] didn't want the captaincy because of the pressure of playing all formats. I told him to decide – say yes, or I'll announce your name. I am happy he has taken it now; he is leading from the front, and you can check the results," shared Ganguly in the Kolkata TV interview.

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For those unfamiliar with the situation, Rohit Sharma's aggressive approach as an opener has significantly benefited India in the ongoing World Cup. With 442 runs in eight matches, a strike rate of 122.78, and 22 sixes, Rohit has played a pivotal role in India's campaign.

The behind-the-scenes revelation by Ganguly adds a new dimension to Rohit Sharma's captaincy journey, highlighting the challenges and pressures faced by players in the realm of international cricket leadership.