India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain, Rohit Sharma, has received support from an unexpected admirer during a rough patch in his career. On Saturday, Bollywood icon Farhan Akhtar took to Instagram to praise Sharma for his selflessness, highlighting his focus on the team’s success over his personal struggles to regain form.
Farhan shared a picture of Sharma in action, accompanied by a heartfelt message. He wrote, "I just have to get this off my chest. This guy has contributed immensely to Indian cricket, leading our team with remarkable success over the years. His batting talent speaks for itself, and there have been countless innings where he’s showcased his elite level of performance."
Farhan Akhtar on Rohit Sharma
Farhan acknowledged that cricket, like all sports, witnesses even the greatest players go through tough phases. He noted that fans often secretly wish players would take time off to regain form in domestic cricket or the nets before returning to their best. However, he pointed out that Sharma has put the team’s chances ahead of his personal goals, continuing to captain despite not being in peak form.
The actor-director reflected on how, instead of receiving praise for this selflessness, many have criticized Sharma. Farhan urged his followers to consider why a player would sacrifice personal glory for the greater good of the team, questioning why the world often responds negatively to such acts. He ended with, "Rohit, you’re a superstar. You know what you’re doing, and I know you won’t let the negativity get to you. Thank you for showing the world that team comes before the individual. It takes immense strength of mind and heart to do this, and that’s what makes you a great leader. See you back on the field soon."
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Sharma has been under fire for his performance as captain during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, particularly his inability to lead from the front with the bat. The Indian team has struggled, with the Australians dominating much of the series. While India won the first match under Jasprit Bumrah’s leadership, they failed to build on that momentum when the captaincy shifted to Sharma.
Despite leading India to a memorable T20 World Cup win in June 2024, Sharma’s form has been inconsistent during the current Test series, with the Indian batting order collapsing under pressure from the Australians. For the final Test, Sharma has been rested, with Bumrah stepping in as the captain.
India’s batting woes were evident in the first innings, where they could only muster 185 runs, though their bowlers responded well, restricting Australia to 181 runs. By the time of this report, India had scored 137 for 6 in their second innings, with key batsmen dismissed, leaving Rishabh Pant as the top scorer.
In the final Test, India must win to level the series, keeping their hopes alive for a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. For India to qualify, Australia must lose their upcoming series against Sri Lanka, even if India draws the ongoing series.
