Rohit Sharma's captaincy has been the driving force behind India's unblemished record in the World Cup, igniting the hopes of a cricket-crazy nation yearning for a home victory.
With an impressive tally of 217 runs, including a record-breaking century against Afghanistan, Rohit has gracefully carried the weight of expectations, succeeding Virat Kohli as the white-ball captain in 2021, with the ultimate goal of securing India's third World Cup triumph and their first international title since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Renowned Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting showered accolades on Rohit, commending his ability to manage the pressures of the captaincy with finesse.
Ponting, in an International Cricket Council column, pointed out the contrast between Virat Kohli, who wears his emotions on his sleeve and actively engages with fans, and Rohit, who exudes a calm and collected demeanour both on and off the field.
Ponting stated, "But I think Rohit will be fine with it. He's a terrific bloke and has been a great player for a long time, and he's done a great job as leader of India."
Rohit, 36, boasts a track record of success as a captain, having clinched five IPL titles with the Mumbai Indians and most recently leading India to victory in the Asia Cup.
This triumph helped alleviate some of the disappointment of India's semi-final exit in the T20 World Cup in Australia under his leadership.
Rohit has always managed to insulate himself from the weight of expectations, and Ponting, who once captained him in Mumbai and later coached him, attested to his laid-back approach.
"He's very laid back," said Ponting. "You can even see that by the way that he plays. He's a pretty laconic sort of batsman as well, and that's the way he is both on and off the field."
Nicknamed the "Hitman" for his ability to score big and score quickly, Rohit Sharma made a resounding comeback after a duck in India's opening match against Australia, impressing with his strategic captaincy moves. He notched a remarkable 131 against Afghanistan, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar with a record seventh World Cup century.
His century in just 63 balls set a new record for the fastest century by an Indian in a World Cup, surpassing Kapil Dev's hundred in 72 balls against Zimbabwe in 1983.
Rohit carried his stellar form into the much-anticipated clash with arch-rivals Pakistan, where he blazed a match-winning 86, propelling India to the top of the 10-team World Cup standings.
With a career total of 10,329 ODI runs, including 31 centuries in 254 matches since his debut in 2007, Rohit has established himself as a formidable force in world cricket.
As the leader of the Indian team, Rohit Sharma embraces the role and its responsibilities. He believes that with unwavering belief and hard work, anything is possible. "Nothing in life is impossible; you can make it possible if you have the belief," Rohit affirmed.
"If you trust in it, if you have the will to go forward, it's everyone's dream, firstly to be part of the team, and then to captain the team, which is definitely the icing on the cake. I never thought I would be captain one day."
Rohit's deputy in the World Cup, Hardik Pandya, lauded his leadership for bringing out the best in players through unwavering faith in their abilities. "Since he has come, he has backed a lot of boys, and we see the result now as well with how the boys are going and expressing themselves," said Pandya. "So that's why Rohit has been special in giving them enough opportunity and at the same time telling them that 'you know what, I got your back'."
