Credit: ICC
Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has commended India captain Rohit Sharma’s captaincy prowess. Dhawan and Rohit served Team India as openers in white-ball cricket for nine years from 2013 to 2022 and during that period, both scored 5148 runs in 115 ODIs together as a pair. With these numbers, they are also the fourth-most successful opening partners in ODI cricket. Dhawan, who is a brand ambassador of the Champions Trophy 2025, showered praise on his former colleague as he believes Rohit’s maturity has helped Team India.
"From 2013 to 2025, 12 years of experience is a lot. Rohit has been through a lot. He knows how to work in a pressure situation, how to gather the boys,” said Dhawan while appearing on a special series ‘The Shikhar Dhawan Experience’ on Star Sports and JioHotstar. “As a leader, he has become mature, he knows when to be lenient and when to pull back. It's a fine balance and Rohit's bond with the boys is amazing. We are in a great situation," the 39-year-old added.
Dhawan recalls his Champions Trophy 2013 memories and equation with Rohit
Dhawan also reminisced his memories related to the Champions Trophy 2013. Former India player disclosed it was MS Dhoni’s idea to promote Rohit as an opener alongside him. “This opening pair decision was made half a day prior to that match. “At that time, I was also new, and I was in my own world. I had made a comeback and needed to perform well. But MS Dhoni took this decision and instructed Rohit to open," remarked former India left-handed opener.
Dhawan also recalled his junior days when the friendship between him and Rohit started. "We trust each other and our understanding and level of communication was very high. On the field and off the field our bond is same. We played together, we have partied together after winning so many series. We have played as a team," said Dhawan on his equation with Rohit.
Dhawan was the most successful batter in the Champions Trophy 2013. With 363 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 101.39, the southpaw played an essential role in India's trophy win. He continued his form in the 2017 edition of the ODI tournament. This time, he notched up 338 runs in five games with a couple of fifties and a ton.
