Rohit Sharma’s ‘Dhoni-Like Qualities’ in Captaincy Revealed by IPL Winner

Unmukt Chand also took note of MI icon Rohit Sharma’s batting abilities in the shortest format of the game, calling him a ‘magician’ on the field. 

Rohit Sharma’s ‘Dhoni-Like Qualities’ in Captaincy Revealed by IPL Winner

Unmukt Chand spoke highly of Rohit Sharma's leadership. (via NDTV Sports)

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Former India Under-19 captain Unmukt Chand shared his insights on playing under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, during his tenure with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. The former U-19 World Cup-winning captain, depsite having endured a poor run in the IPL, did lay his hands on the trophy in 2015.

Unmukt Chand was a breakout star from the 2012 ICC U-19 World Cup, after he captained the Men in Blue to only its third title at the time. He finished the tournament with 281 runs in five matches, including an unbeaten 112-run knock in the final against Australia. Chand had already made his IPL debut for the Delhi Daredevils in 2011, later moving to the Rajasthan Royals in 2014, and then to the Mumbai Indians in 2015.

Unmukt Chand’s IPL journey was not convincing at all, despite spending six seasons in the competition. In 21 matches, Chand only scored 300 runs at a poor average of just 15. Faced with the inability to break into the senior Indian national team and a slump in his domestic form, the 32-year-old decided to end his playing career in India and moved to the United States in 2021. While he has yet to represent the USA internationally, he has since played in the Big Bash League, Bangladesh Premier League, and the MLC.

Reflecting on his unsuccessful IPL stint, Chand shared his experience of playing under the leadership of Indian ODI captain Rohit Sharma, comparing him to the likes of CSK’s MS Dhoni. Chand described the former MI captain as a calm and strong leader who has an excellent understanding of his players. He noted that Rohit gives younger players the freedom to express themselves and perform at their best.

Chand further took note of Sharma’s T20I batting abilities, calling him a ‘magician’ on the field. The 32-year-old also opined that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should play until the 2027 ODI World Cup. Chand expressed his great admiration for the two veteran Indian icons, citing their approach and long-standing consistency.

He also mentioned his interest in a potential return to the IPL, stating that he would be keen to play for the three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders. Chand said in an interview with Crictracker:

Well, playing with Rohit [Sharma] was very nice. We won the 2015 IPL as well under his leadership. Again, he is a very calm guy. I feel overall he is a very good leader in terms of understanding his players, giving them the space to operate.

Meanwhile, Unmukt Chand shared these insights ahead of the release of his new documentary film, ‘Unbroken: The Unmukt Chand Story’. The film, which was released in theaters yesterday, chronicles the struggles of the 32-year-old former cricketer’s career.

Rohit Sharma Gears Up for ODI Comeback Against Australia, Shares Training Video

Indian ODI captain Rohit Sharma is all ready to make his comeback into the national side, after having remained out of action since March 2025, following the Men in Blues’ Champions Trophy triumph. Sharma’s preparedness was confirmed by a video shared by the player on social media.

Rohit Sharma training video
Rohit Sharma shared a video of him training ahead of return to India’s ODI side. (via India Today)

The video shared on social media, depicted Rohit Sharma fit and focused, while undergoing an intense training session, giving fans a glimpse of his determination to contribute to India’s cause in the upcoming limited-overs matches, including the back-to-back ODI series against Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, with Rohit Sharma expected to lead the team in all of those matches. 

The 38-year-old also dismissed rumors of his retirement from international cricket, after having already stepped away from T20I and Test formats over the past year. There is increasing speculation that the Australia tour could be Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s last assignment, due to ongoing concerns about their form, fitness, and the team’s shift towards a new generation of players.

It was also reported that the duo had been instructed by the BCCI to play domestic cricket, to remain in contention. The final decision regarding their future rests with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as well as chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir.

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