Indian cricket icon Yuvraj Singh recently extended his full support to Team India captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir. He praised the leadership skills of Gambhir and Rohit despite the Indian team’s humiliating whitewash in the home Test series losses to New Zealand and Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Notably, since Gambhir took over from Rahul Dravid, India have so far lost six out of 10 Tests, including the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade and an ODI series in Sri Lanka after nearly three decades.
Yuvraj Singh supports Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir
Yuvraj Singh pointed out that former teammate Gautam Gambhir has just entered the coaching system, so he deserves more time to settle into his new role and prove his impact.
Reflecting on Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, he highlighted his remarkable record, saying he has led the two-time World Cup-winning Indian team to 2024 T20 World Cup glory, the 2023 ODI World Cup Final and the 2023 WTC Final. Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles.
During the event as quoted by PTI, Yuvraj Singh told reporters, “Gautam Gambhir should be given more time as he is new to the system. Rohit won us the T20 World Cup and was the captain when India reached the final of the ODI World Cup. Mumbai Indians have won 5 IPLs under Rohit’s captaincy.
Yuvraj Singh hails Rohit Sharma’s selfless act of retirement in SCG Test
Yuvraj Singh stressed that a couple of disappointing series does not define a captain’s legacy as he defended Rohit Sharma’s captaincy amid heavy criticism. However, the former Indian all-rounder admitted that India’s 3-0 home Test series loss to New Zealand was tougher for him to swallow.
The former India all-rounder hailed Rohit’s selfless and rare act of pulling himself out of the final Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to his poor form and giving someone else a chance to prove himself against Australia. He asked critics how many Indian captains have done the same.
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Yuvraj Singh signed off by saying, “Rohit resigned in the last Test (in the BGT) to give someone else a chance. How many captains have done that in the past? I look at what he has done in the last 3-5 years; a tournament cannot decide. For me, the series loss at home was more disappointing because India’s 3-0 loss to New Zealand was tougher.”
VIDEO | Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) supports skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam. He says, “If India wins, if they lose, we criticize them. I see the last five years of Rohit Sharma…Gautam Gambhir should be given more time. Rohit won us… pic.twitter.com/9NDmczEFTR
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 16, 2025
Rohit Sharma’s declining numbers in Test Cricket
After India’s T20 World Cup triumph last year, Rohit Sharma has suffered both as a batsman and as India’s captain. In the 2024/25 Test season, the Indian bowler scored just 164 runs in eight matches and 15 innings at a low average of 10.93 and his highest score was just 52.
It has been a tough year for Rohit as captain as India have lost six Tests, including four at home. He now has a total of 12 wins, 9 losses and 3 draws as India’s Test captain. He is currently preparing for the three-match ODI series against England at home, followed by the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
