The former opener reckons questioning Rohit after just one series loss is unfair, especially when he led India to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup title triumph just six months ago. "The pressure you all talk about isn't something we feel. While there is pressure in the game, we don't dwell on losses or wins; that's part of the game," Dhawan told IndiaToday.in. "I feel that's neither a fair nor a practical approach toward anything," he added, defending his captain and close friend.  during the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, where he admitted to a significant misjudgement of pitch conditions. India suffered a historic collapse after Rohit decided to bat first in Bengaluru, bowled out for their lowest total (46) at home, and lost to New Zealand for the first time in 36 years. The series only grew more contentious 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 seemed sensible on the turn-friendly track, but defensive field placements allowed New Zealand's batters to capitalize. This misstep mirrored India's struggles in Bengaluru, where New Zealand's pacers exploited the rain-affected pitch, taking 17 of the 20 Indian wickets and clinching an eight-wicket victory. 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 across both innings to secure a series win for the visitors. After turf since 2012, Rohit Sharma joins an unwanted list with Kapil Dev as the only Indian captain in 41 years to lose three home Tests in a single calendar year. The parallels with Dev's 1983 struggles against the West Indies have heightened the criticism. Dhawan, however, insists on taking a broader view of Rohit Sharma's leadership qualities, emphasizing that the connection he fosters with the team holds immeasurable value. "As a cricketer, we don't think that way. And Rohit is a great leader; it's not just about winning and losing. There's a bond, the team's connection with its leader, and how much they look up to him," Dhawan added. 'INDIA TO DO 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 now need to win at least four of their remaining six Tests. This will be challenging as five of those matches are scheduled to take place in Australia, where the conditions favor the hosts. Further complicating matters, there is a strong possibility that captain Rohit Sharma may miss the opening one 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 regarding his potential absence in the first Test. However, Shikhar Dhawan remains optimistic about India's chances in the upcoming Australia tour. "India will do very well in Australia. Whether he plays the first match or not, of course, his presence and experience will be missed. But I am sure the boys are very, very professional and will perform well," he concluded.