Former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh expressed his support for India’s captain Rohit Sharma, despite recent setbacks in the team’s performance. India faced two consecutive series losses—against New Zealand at home and Australia away—in the Test format. Despite the criticism, Yuvraj defended Rohit’s leadership, highlighting his achievements.
“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 World Cup (ODI) final. Mumbai Indians won 5 IPLs under Rohit’s captaincy. He 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,” Yuvraj said during an event.
Rohit’s captaincy has seen a blend of highs and lows. Under his leadership, India enjoyed a ten-match winning streak during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup at home, culminating in a loss to Australia in the final. Additionally, India claimed the ICC T20 World Cup title in 2024 at Barbados, and the team reached the final of the ICC World Test Championship 2023, although they were defeated by Australia.
However, recent performances have put Rohit under scrutiny. His struggles as a batter and captain in the second half of 2024 have been apparent. In the 2024/25 Test season, starting with the home series against Bangladesh, Rohit managed just 164 runs in eight matches, averaging 10.93 with a top score of 52. His form continued to decline in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he managed only 31 runs in three Tests with a best score of 10. He also opted out of the final Test in Sydney.
In 2024, Rohit’s Test captaincy saw six losses, including four on home soil. His Test record as captain has also taken a hit, with 12 wins, 9 losses, and 3 draws. Despite these challenges, Yuvraj believes Rohit’s overall leadership record over the last few years deserves more time and respect.