Shikhar Dhawan supports Rohit Sharma: ‘A good captain is not just about winning and losing’

Rohit Sharma may have become the first India captain to lose a home Test series in 12 years, but his friend and former opening partner Shikhar Dhawan does not see the loss in New Zealand as a concern. The former opener feels it is unfair to question Rohit after just one series loss, especially when he led India to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title just six months ago.

“The pressure you are all talking about is not something we feel. While there is pressure in the game, we don’t dwell on losing or winning; that is part of the game,” Dhawan told IndiaToday.in. “I feel this is neither a fair nor a practical approach to anything,” he added, defending his captain and close friend.

Rohit’s captaincy came under the scanner during the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, where he admitted he had significantly misjudged the field conditions. India suffered a historic collapse after Rohit decided to bat first in Bengaluru, running out for the lowest total (46) at home and losing to New Zealand for the first time in 36 years. The series only became more controversial when Rohit Sharma’s cautious captaincy on Day 1 in Pune drew criticism from prominent voices in the cricketing world, including Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Simon Doull.

‘ROHIT IS A GREAT LEADER’

In Pune, the Indian captain’s strategy of opening with spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar looked sensible on the bend-friendly track, but defensive field placements allowed the New Zealand batters to capitalize. The misstep mirrored India’s struggles in Bengaluru, where the New Zealand pacers exploited the rain-affected pitch, taking 17 of the 20 Indian wickets and completing an eight-wicket win. Pune’s slow-turner, intended to give India an edge, instead played into New Zealand’s hands as Mitchell Santner, leading a spin attack, claimed a ten-wicket haul over both innings to seal a series victory for the to keep visitors safe.

After India’s first series loss on home field Since 2012, Rohit Sharma has joined an unwanted list that includes Kapil Dev as the only Indian captain in 41 years to have lost three home Tests in a single calendar year. The parallels with Dev’s fight against the West Indies in 1983 have fueled criticism. Dhawan, however, insists on taking a broader view of Rohit Sharma’s leadership qualities, stressing that the bond he maintains with the team is invaluable.

“As a cricketer, we don’t think like that. And Rohit is a great leader; it’s not just about winning and losing. There is a bond, the team’s bond with its leader and how much they look up to him,” says Dhawan. added.

‘INDIA IS DOING WELL IN AUSTRALIA’

India’s back-to-back losses to New Zealand have made their path to the World Test Championship (WTC) final steeper. To secure a place without relying on other results, India must now win at least four of the remaining six Tests. This will be a challenge as five of those matches will take place in Australia, where conditions are favorable for the home team.

Complicating matters further, there is a strong possibility that captain Rohit Sharma may miss the first or two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to personal reasons. While the BCCI announced him as captain for the entire five-Test series, no official statement was made about his possible absence in the first Test.

However, Shikhar Dhawan remains optimistic about India’s chances in the upcoming tour of Australia. “India will do very well in Australia. Whether he plays the first match or not, his presence and experience will obviously be missed. But I am sure the boys will be very, very professional and will perform well,” concluded he.