Sanjay Bhardwaj Names Rohit Sharma as Best Indian Captain Than MS Dhoni & Virat Kohli (ICC Champions Trophy 2025)
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is going to kick start on Feb 19, and there have been a couple of rumbles already going on, with cricket experts and some former players discussing leadership traits by the Indian captains of yore and now. The biggest voice in this debate has been Sanjay Bhardwaj, who is well known after being the childhood coach of Gautam Gambhir, and has judged Rohit Sharma as the best Indian captain over all the greats such as MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli &his own man Golam Gamby.

Rohit Sharma Leadership  Viewpoints of Bhardwaj
Sanjay Bhardwaj was last featured was called upon by Raunak Podcast in one of their recent episodes to weigh in on the thought of Leadership styles from Captain India past AND present. He picked Rohit as the best of the lot right away. According to Bhardwaj: the upcoming generation of players have a huge admiration for Rohit because he is an all-round guy who supports his younger guys as well.

Rohit Sharma Not Refreshing Test Cricket as We Know Him
Already in his Test appearances of late, Rohit Sharma.He went miserable in batting and just 31 runs in five innings in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 against Australia. Rohit has accumulated just 164 runs in Test cricket, and that too over the last 15 innings without even a hundred to his credit.

He was challenged to explain his struggles, especially as far as an Indian Test Captain. An argument can be made that though he is successful in white-ball cricket, his form has reduced in Test matches and plenty of questions are asked about what he will do on red-ball assignments???

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Gautam Gambhir childhood coach Sanjay Bhardwaj picks Rohit Sharma as the best captain.😂❤️ pic.twitter.com/qNFpma3UV3

— 𝐉𝐨𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐞 (@jod_insane) January 29, 2025

"Rohit Sharma Took the Right Step for the Team": Gambhir Praises Indian Captain

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma recently garnered praise for his leadership decisions during a challenging series against Australia. Former cricketer and current coach Gautam Gambhir lauded Sharma’s selflessness after he chose to sit out the playing XI in the final Test, prioritizing the team’s success over individual contributions.

Gambhir, addressing recent speculations and criticisms, called Sharma’s decision a “bold and team-centric move.” Speaking to the media, Gambhir said, “When a captain makes a decision with the team’s best interests in mind, it reflects true leadership. Rohit Sharma has shown that the team and country come first, setting an example for others to follow.”

Gautam Gambhir - There is nothing wrong if the captain decided to stood down himself due to our of form. I think everyone should put the team first and captain Rohit Sharma did that. 🫡❤️ @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/YNjuuwHGSH

— TEJASH 🚩 (@LoyleRohitFan) January 5, 2025

Struggles with Form and a Tough Call

Rohit Sharma’s performance in the series had been underwhelming, managing just 31 runs across five innings. Recognizing his form struggles, Sharma decided to give opportunities to in-form players in the final Test in Sydney. This move, according to Gambhir, demonstrated maturity and accountability.

“Leadership isn’t just about scoring runs; it’s about making tough decisions. By stepping aside, Rohit ensured the team had the best possible chance of competing. It’s a commendable act that shows his commitment to Indian cricket,” Gambhir added.

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Gambhir on Media Rumors and Player Futures

The series loss against Australia sparked rumors about potential discord within the Indian team and raised questions about the futures of senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Gambhir dismissed these speculations, urging media outlets to exercise caution in their reporting.

“I’ve always believed that a good team thrives on unity, especially during tough times. Speculating about internal issues does no good for the team’s morale,” Gambhir remarked. On the future of Sharma and Kohli, he said, “Both have shown resilience and passion throughout their careers. It’s not for me to decide their future, but I believe they have the hunger to continue contributing to Indian cricket.”

India's Dressing Room Confidentiality Breach Sparks Unrest: Echoes of Past Feuds

There's major conflict with India's cricket team because someone leaked private content from their locker room, causing a strikingly large stir and causing everyone to feel nervous if the team can stay tight and motivated. This problem isn't new thoughit's just similar to old times when there were important conflicts such as the Chappell-Ganguly and the Kohli-Kumble disagreements.Those were around the mid-2000s and in 2017. Now, everyone's talking about how these past issues are showing up again and messing up the team's cohesion.

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The Recent Unrest in the Indian Dressing Room

Rumors are going around that not everything is wonderful in India's team. Apparently, the players have split into groups, destroying the team dynamic. Things got much more intense when the head coach, Gautam Gambhir, was seen eating alone instead of with the team which might mean there are arguments happening that we don't know about.Also, when captain Rohit Sharma did not attend a New Year's Eve party thrown by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, it made people wonder if there's a larger conflict going on with the players.

A Leak of Confidential Information

A leak of sensitive material from the dressing room made things worse because it showed the team wasn't keeping secrets well. This leak ruins trust and can even affect how players do in games. When a team can't keep things private, staying focused and speaking to each other easily becomes hard. This likely happens because there's already no harmony or openness in the Indian team, which is very bad timing.

Vikrant Gupta - Kohli was the one who leaked the dressing room conversation during the Kumble saga. Kohli is Mr. Fix It and everyone is Greedy of Captaincy after world cup win .

Gupta Ji Not Holding Back 🥶. pic.twitter.com/TundaK53jt

— 𝐉𝐨𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐞 (@jod_insane) January 1, 2025

Historical Context: The Chappell-Ganguly and Kohli-Kumble Feuds

The Indian team has had its share of conflict before, not only this one. The Chappell-Ganguly feud in the mid-2000s stands out. When coach Greg Chappell and captain Sourav Ganguly couldn't agree, it stirred up a lot of trouble for the team. Their disparate manners of handling things ended up in a major conflict for control, nearly ripping the team into pieces.Things really blew up when Ganguly got removed from the team, making it a very controversial chapter in the story of Indian cricket.

Similarly, in 2017, the Indian dressing room was torn apart by the Kohli-Kumble feud. Virat Kohli, the then-captain, and Anil Kumble, the head coach, had a public falling out that ultimately led to Kumble's resignation. Kohli's growing influence within the team and Kumble's more traditional approach to coaching caused friction between the two, and the saga left a lasting impact on the team's dynamic. The fallout from the incident revealed the deep divisions that existed within the squad, and it took a long time for the team to regain its composure.

Current Implications: A Threat to Team Cohesion

The recent breach of confidentiality, coupled with ongoing reports of unrest, poses a significant threat to India's cohesion ahead of their upcoming matches. The Indian team, which has long been regarded as one of the most formidable sides in world cricket, now faces a situation that could undermine its morale and team spirit. The timing of these issues is especially critical, as India aims to perform well in their ongoing tour and future series.

The leaked information from within the dressing room hints at the ongoing struggles within the team. This revelation not only compromises the unity of the squad but also brings attention to the lack of transparency and trust among players and management. Such incidents often lead to division within the ranks and can negatively affect the team's performance on the field.

Cheteshwar Pujara: The Missing Piece in India's Border-Gavaskar Trophy Campaign

Reports have surfaced suggesting that Indian Men's Team Head Coach Gautam Gambhir recommended the inclusion of Cheteshwar Pujara for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, the BCCI Selectors declined his request during the team selection meeting prior to the tour. This decision has gained significance as India's batting performance in Australia this year has been underwhelming.

India's Batting Struggles in Australia

During the series, major names such as Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Virat Kohli just couldn't make a mark like they usually do. Kohli did hit a century in his second turn during the first game but his game has been up and down, especially with getting out on balls outside off-stump which reminds everyone of when he used to struggle with that before.

This inconsistent hitting from them is a strikingly large reason why India hasn't been doing great in the series.

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Pujara's Role and Strengths

Pujara is famous for wearing down bowlers and creating strong partnerships, which makes him a key player to steady the batting lineup. The team really misses having someone who can help make things steady between the top and middle players like he does, especially in the current series. It's a major issue that they're thinking about bringing Cheteshwar Pujara back into the group because he's great at holding an innings together with his top-notch defensive skills.

🚨 GAUTAM GAMBHIR WANTED PUJARA IN TEAM INDIA FOR BGT 🚨

- Gautam Gambhir wanted Cheteshwar Pujara in Team India's Squad for Border Gavaskar Trophy but the selectors shot it down. Even after Perth Test Match, Gambhir was still talking about Pujara. (Express Sports). pic.twitter.com/NZRqas1UyK

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) January 1, 2025

Pujara's Past Performances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

2018-19 Series in Australia

Pujara was a total leader in the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy and you notice it. He obtained 521 runs in just seven innings over four matches, which had everyone talking. He obtained three centuries and also scored fifty runs, boasting an average of 74.42. Among his best performances were:

A marathon 193 in the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which consumed 373 balls and ensured a draw.

A gritty 123 in the first match.

A remarkable 106 during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

2020-21 Series in Australia

During the 2020-21 series, Pujara hit a total of 271 runs. The Brisbane Gabba test was an important game, where his score of 56 from 211 balls showed how tough and gritty he could be, playing a major role in India's key win by staying strong against constant, very fast bowling.

Pujara's Test Career in Numbers

Pujara is a really solid and reliable batsman in Test cricket, having played 103 matches. He's scored 7,195 runs from 174 innings, which averages out to 44 runs every game he plays. Among those runs, he's hit 19 hundreds and 34 fifties, with his top score being a very high 206 runs without getting out against England. His track record seriously shows how valuable he is on the team.

India's Struggles in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Today, India is losing 2-1 in the series, and they are having a hard time with batting. Even though they tried putting Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma in key roles, both of them didn't manage to do well consistently. The match in Brisbane that ended in a draw really showed how the middle-order can't hold together and make the most of the chances they get.

Gambhir's Concerns and Australian Bowlers' Perspective

Gambhir's very upset because the batting's been awful for a long time and he told the team how bad it was. He was very upset that the players were apparently concentrated on demonstrating their own skills instead of playing as a team. Gambhir kept saying they must hold to the plan they agreed on before the meeting, and not only make content as they go.

He made it extremely unmistakeable that working together is significantly more important than trying to be a solo star.

Josh Hazlewood, the Australian bowler, was very happy that Pujara wouldn't be playing. Hazlewood really meant exactly what he said, that Pujara had a major effect because of how he could just stay at the crease forever, make the bowlers tired, and was always good when playing in Australia. He is someone who bats time and makes you earn his wicket every time, is actually how Hazlewood put it, showing that he really thought Pujara mattered a lot for India winning.

Hazlewood's comments before the series really shone a light on how crucial Pujara was.

Newly appointed Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir will need to wait for his coaching team to come together since Morne Morkel might not be available for the Sri Lanka tour. The BCCI is almost finalizing a deal with the former South African bowler, who Gambhir recommended himself.

Gambhir and Morkel worked together for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL during 2022 and 2023. Gambhir has picked his own coaching staff, which is expected to include Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate.

T Dilip and new assistants join the squad

Nayar and ten Doeschate will join the team in Sri Lanka as assistant coaches, and T Dilip is likely to stay on as fielding coach. However without Morkel, India will not have a dedicated bowling coach for this tour since former coach Paras Mhambrey’s contract ended after Team India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory.

Interim bowling coach as Sairaj Bahutule

According to Cricbuzz, Sairaj Bahutule will step in as interim bowling coach. Bahutule a former leg spinner with experience coaching domestic teams like Kerala, Bengal and the Rajasthan Royals (RR), will help the spinners on the subcontinent pitches. India’s squad has several skilled spinners like Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, and Kuldeep Yadav.

The report also notes that Morkel has traveled from Sydney to Pretoria to visit his sick father but is expected to join the team before their next international assignment, a home series against Bangladesh.

Gautam Gambhir will be officially introduced as the new head coach on Monday, July 22, in Mumbai. He will attend a press conference before leaving with the team and support staff for his first assignment.

Team India will head to Sri Lanka on July 22 and start their tour with three ODIs and three T20Is from July 27.