During the recent CEAT Cricket Awards, Indian cricket luminaries Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Shami opened up about their experiences playing under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, focusing on the captain’s distinctive on-field reactions and leadership style.

Mohammed Shami & Shreyas Iyer on Rohit Sharma’s leadership

Rohit, renowned for his animated on-field expressions, was a central topic of discussion. Both Shreyas Iyer and Shami praised Rohit for his unique approach to leadership, emphasizing his ability to grant players the freedom to express themselves on the field.

Shami shared insights into Rohit’s approach, highlighting how the captain’s reactions communicate his expectations without needing words.

“The best thing about Rohit Sharma is that he gives you freedom, but if you don’t meet his expectations, then the reactions we see on the screen—the ones we understand without him saying anything—start to come out,” Shami remarked during the award ceremony.

Iyer elaborated on this dynamic, explaining that the team has become adept at interpreting Rohit’s non-verbal cues.

“He’s actually right. We fill in the words ‘woh’, ‘yeh’, ‘usko’, ‘isko’; it’s kind of like filling in the blanks for us. So, we just visualize what will happen in that particular moment, or what he might be referring to in another situation. But, we understand his feelings; we have been playing with him for so many years. It’s not like he’s trying to beat around the bush; we know exactly what he feels,” Iyer said.

Here is the video:

Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Shami talking about their captain Rohit Sharma.🥹

The Captain, the leader, the legend @ImRo45 🐐 pic.twitter.com/DmXJ7YaegC

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) August 21, 2024

Also READ: An Exclusive Interview with UPT20 cricketer Parth Palawat: His journey, inspiration, and favourite captains

Rohit’s reply on his fellow teammates’ statements

Rohit offered a glimpse into his philosophy of leadership, “There’s a simple story behind this. I keep telling them to be themselves on the field, but for that, first, I have to be myself. And that is how I am, and that is how I want to be on the field as well,” the Mumbaikar said.

The candid reflections from Iyer and Shami at the CEAT Cricket Awards underscore the deep understanding and mutual respect between Rohit and his team.

The CEAT Cricket Awards not only celebrated individual performances but also provided a platform for players to share their perspectives on the nuances of leadership and team dynamics in cricket.

Also READ: Rohit Sharma names three pillars behind India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph

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