Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has thrown his support behind Rohit Sharma, emphasizing the importance of his leadership for India’s upcoming campaign in the T20 World Cup. Yuvraj, expressing his desire to witness his “close friend” lift the elusive trophy, lauded Rohit’s ability to make astute decisions under pressure, highlighting the crucial role his presence will play in India’s quest for glory.

Yuvraj opens up about Rohit

Rohit Sharma, known for his sensible captaincy, has steered India to significant milestones in recent years, including reaching the finals of the 50-over World Cup and the ICC World Test Championship. Under Rohit’s leadership, India made it to the semifinals of the 2022 T20 World Cup, showcasing his prowess as a captain in the shortest format of the game.

With India’s ICC title drought extending to a decade since their last triumph in the Champions Trophy 2013 under Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s leadership, Yuvraj stressed the need for someone with Rohit’s expertise to lead the team at the marquee event.

“(Rohit’s presence is going to be) very crucial. I think we need a really good captain, a sensible captain who takes decisions well under pressure. And he’s the one to take them,” Yuvraj, who is the T20 World Cup 2024 ambassador, told ICC.

“He was the captain when we lost in the (Cricket World Cup) 50-over final (in 2023). He has won five IPL trophies as a captain. I think we need somebody like him to captain India,” he added.

“The more success he’s had, he has never changed as a person…”

Having witnessed Rohit’s journey from his debut as a teenager in 2007, Yuvraj fondly recalled his initial impressions of the flamboyant opener, describing him as a “very funny guy” with a great heart. Reflecting on their time together at Mumbai Indians, where Yuvraj’s final season as an active cricketer coincided with Rohit’s captaincy, he reminisced about their camaraderie and teased Rohit about his humble beginnings from the streets of Borivali in Mumbai.

“The more success he’s had, he has never changed as a person. That’s the beauty of Rohit Sharma. Fun-loving, always having fun with the guys, A great leader on the park and one of my closest friends from cricket.

“I really want to see Rohit Sharma with a World Cup trophy and a World Cup medal. He really deserves it.”

See Also: David Warner opens up on being blocked by SRH Social Media

As Rohit Sharma prepares to lead the ‘Men in Blue’ once again in the T20 World Cup, scheduled to commence on June 2 in the Caribbean and the USA, the backing of seasoned campaigners like Yuvraj Singh adds to the confidence and expectations surrounding India’s campaign in the tournament.