Rohit Sharma showcased his leadership prowess as he led the Indian cricket team to a resounding victory against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023 final, leaving no room for doubt. This win marked India’s 8th triumphant moment in the history of the Asia Cup. While Rohit’s captaincy abilities in the One-Day International (ODI) format were never questioned, former Indian batter Gautam Gambhir didn’t mince his words when sharing his candid evaluation, playfully drawing a contrast with Virat Kohli.
India secured their eighth Asia Cup trophy with a convincing victory, and this triumph was largely attributed to the destructive bowling performance by Mohammed Siraj. Siraj’s exceptional spell left Sri Lanka’s batting lineup in disarray, as he claimed six wickets for just 21 runs from his seven overs. The match took place in Colombo, where Dasun Shanaka won the toss and opted to bat.
Sri Lanka’s batsmen found themselves in a quandary, struggling to contend with Siraj and the other Indian bowlers. In fact, five of their players were dismissed without even opening their accounts.
In the chase, India achieved the target in a mere 6.1 overs, securing victory with a staggering 263 balls to spare and all ten wickets intact. This win marked India’s most significant victory margin in terms of the number of balls remaining. The decision to promote Ishan Kishan to open the innings alongside Shubman Gill proved to be a winning move, as the pair successfully chased down the target and clinched the game for India.
This victory holds immense importance for Team India, as it serves as a substantial morale booster heading into the 2023 World Cup, which is just around the corner, less than three weeks away.
Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir shared his candid thoughts on Rohit’s captaincy, while also making a few remarks about “Virat Kohli.”
After India’s victory in the Asia Cup 2023 final, Gautam Gambhir openly discussed Rohit’s leadership during a conversation with Star Sports. He emphasized that there were no doubts about Rohit’s captaincy, highlighting the fact that the seasoned opener had clinched five IPL titles before taking on the role of India’s full-time skipper.
Gambhir said:
“There was never a doubt about Rohit the captain. He won 5 IPL titles. Many didn’t even win once. But his real test will come in the next 15 days. You have your best 15-18 players in the dressing room now. If they cannot deliver they there will be question marks. After every World Cup, if the captain is unable to deliver then questions will be raised. Virat Kohli faced it. Rahul Dravid faced it in 2007. If India fail to deliver in 2023, then questions will be raised on Rohit’s captaincy. But this team has the ability to make the World Cup final.”
