Rohit Sharma has found support from across the nation ever since he led the team to the World Cup final last year. Since then, he is a godlike figure in Indian cricket.

In a scenario like this, Mumbai Indians removing him as captain of the franchise and announcing Hardik Pandya as the next captain took fans and cricket experts by surprise.

Later, BCCI secretary Jay Shah named Rohit as captain for the upcoming T20 World Cup to be played in June this year. Rohit is now playing as a pure batsman for Mumbai Indians and without the captaincy he seems to be enjoying his batting. He has so far scored 261 runs in six games at an average of 52.20.

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Rohit Sharma had a difficult upbringing: Brian Lara

Meanwhile, Brian Lara, speaking to Star Sports, praised Rohit Sharma for his work ethic and overall impact as a player in the Indian team. He answered a fan’s question about Rohit on what sets the star batsman apart. Lara praised his ability to keep controversies and setbacks aside and concentrate on his batting.

“When you look at Rohit Sharma, you feel that he connects very well with the audience. He had a tough upbringing, came out of the closet and spent virtually his entire life playing for India; sometimes, not receiving the approval of the selectors and having to work to return. When you have Rohit Sharma’s image and stature, sometimes some people don’t take the hit very well. But what is admirable about him is his ability to put everything aside, put India first, and Mumbai Indians first, and play cricket the way it should be,” Lara said.

“He’s not in a bad mood, which is great. He is a leader, no matter if you are a captain or not. At some point, when you reach a certain age or level, you are a leader. I think he plays that role very well,” Lara said.

The former MI captain will play for the franchise again against the Punjab Kings. His dear friend Shikhar Dhawan will miss the match after spending a period of rest due to shoulder discomfort. Heading into this match, PBKS and MI are ranked eighth and ninth respectively in the points table.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians had a miserable start to their IPL 2024 season by losing their first three matches. They won the next two and lost the previous one to CSK by 20 runs. Pandya’s bowling to MS Dhoni was taken for 20 runs off four balls and eventually those runs made the difference. Chasing 206, Mumbai Indians were bowled out for 186 with an unbeaten ton from Rohit Sharma, his second in the IPL.

“They were smart with the plans and their approach. They understood, there is a man behind the stumps (Dhoni) who tells them what is working, that helps.” These comments from him were especially disconcerting when pundits talked about how differently Pandya sees the game than the man he was playing against.

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