Comparing Leadership: Insights from an Ex-CSK Star on MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma 

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On Tuesday, former cricketer Parthiv Patel shed light on the pivotal support extended by Rohit Sharma to Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah during the initial phases of their IPL journey with Mumbai Indians. Patel emphasized that Sharma stood firmly behind Pandya and Bumrah, providing unwavering support when they faced challenges early in their IPL careers. 

Drawing a comparison between the leadership styles of Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni, Patel noted that Sharma’s approach was akin to that of the Chennai Super Kings‘ stalwart. He lauded Sharma for his consistent decision-making and astute leadership, highlighting that the Mumbai skipper rarely made mistakes or errors in judgment. In contrast, Patel suggested that Dhoni, while a legendary figure in IPL history, had occasionally faltered in his leadership decisions during his extensive IPL tenure.

By commenting Rohit Sharma’s leadership qualities and contrasting them with those of MS Dhoni, Parthiv Patel underscored the importance of strong and supportive leadership in guiding players through the challenges of professional cricket, particularly in high-pressure tournaments like the Indian Premier League.

Former cricketer Parthiv Patel highlighted Rohit Sharma’s unwavering support for players like Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah during their initial IPL stints with Mumbai Indians. Patel drew parallels between Sharma’s leadership style and that of CSK’s MS Dhoni, noting that while Sharma rarely made mistakes, Dhoni had erred on a few occasions during his lengthy IPL career.

Speaking on Jio Cinema, Patel emphasized Sharma’s commitment to backing his players, citing examples such as Bumrah’s performance in 2015 after joining the MI setup in 2014. Sharma’s consistent support, according to Patel, played a crucial role in boosting the confidence and performance of players like Pandya and Bumrah.

“They even considered sending him back halfway through the season. However, Rohit Sharma remained steadfast in his belief in Bumrah’s capabilities. As a result, from 2016 onwards, Bumrah’s performance has been outstanding,” added the former India wicketkeeper, who featured in 25 Tests.

Since joining the Mumbai Indians setup in 2014, Bumrah has emerged as India’s primary pace bowler across all three cricket formats, significantly contributing to Mumbai’s triumphs in the IPL.

Following his inclusion in the five-time champions’ roster in 2015, Pandya ascended to captaincy, leading the Gujarat Titans to victory in the 2022 IPL season. He has since returned to Mumbai Indians as skipper, taking over the role from Rohit Sharma.

“Similarly, Hardik Pandya joined in 2015 and quickly gained popularity. Although his performance in the 2016 season was subpar, Mumbai Indians remained loyal to him, and Pandya eventually blossomed into the player he is today,” he remarked. He further noted that Rohit Sharma’s presence instills a sense of tranquility within the team, a quality unmatched by others.

“The prime illustration is the two IPLs won by MI with just a one-run margin in each match. Such achievements wouldn’t be attainable without a captain who remains composed on the field.

“In tense matches, errors or misjudgments may occur. However, what distinguishes Rohit Sharma’s leadership is the absence of notable blunders over the past decade.

“Even Dhoni has made mistakes, such as giving Pawan Negi an over, but with Rohit, you won’t find any such errors. Dhoni advises keeping the process simple, yet Rohit demonstrates that in his gameplay,” Parthiv added.

Former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan remarked that Rohit makes decisions based on the prevailing circumstances, which is one of the most challenging aspects for an IPL captain.

“You can strategize for a game beforehand, but nobody can predict how events will unfold on the field,” he explained. “Rohit acts based on the current situations and makes decisions, often deviating from the pre-game plans.

“I believe that’s his forte. In the IPL, making spontaneous decisions is among the toughest tasks for captains, and he excelled at it for MI,” he added.

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