Over the past few months, star batter Rohit Sharma has seen some ups and downs. In December, he was removed as Mumbai Indians‘ skipper and was replaced by the returning Hardik Pandya. However, the very next month, Rohit made a comeback as the T20I captain for India after a year. Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, also confirmed that Rohit will lead India in the T20 World Cup in June, despite losing his IPL franchise captaincy just weeks prior.

Despite the off-field controversy, Rohit’s on-field performances did not falter. He scored two centuries in the five-Test series against England in January-March and currently ranks sixth among the highest run-scorers in the IPL 2024. Additionally, the 36-year-old smashed an unbeaten 105 off 63 balls in Mumbai Indians’ last match against Chennai Super Kings.

Former West Indian captain Brian Lara, was impressed by Rohit Sharma’s work ethic and spoke highly of the Mumbai Indians star during on Star Sports. When a fan asked Lara what sets Sharma apart, he praised the Indian batter’s ability to ignore controversies and setbacks and stay focused on improving his game.

“Rohit Sharma’s down-to-earth personality resonates with the public. Despite a difficult upbringing, he persevered in pursuing his cricket career, overcoming setbacks and rejections from the selectors. His selfless commitment to the national team and Mumbai Indians is admirable. He has always prioritised their success over his ego. Sharma’s mental resilience allows him to move past disappointments and focus wholeheartedly on playing his best for the team.” said Lara

Lara was talking about Rohit’s absence from India’s 2011 World Cup squad. He made a delayed entry into the Test side. It was not until 2019 that Rohit solidified his spot as opener in the Test team.

“Fortunately, he’s not the one to sulk. Whether or not he’s captain, he’s a leader. At a certain age or level, you become a leader regardless of title. I believe he embodies that leadership role excellently.” Lara added.

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