New Delhi: Veteran Indian all-rounder Suresh Raina on Wednesday backed limited over vice-captain Rohit Sharma to follow former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's footsteps due to his leadership quality and the effect he has on the dressing room.
Rohit has enjoyed considerable success as a captain. He has led Mumbai Indians to four Indian Premier League (IPL) titles, thus making them the most successful team in the league, and was the captain of the Indian team that won the 2018 Asia Cup.
"I would say that he is the next M.S. Dhoni for the Indian cricket team," Raina said on a Podcast, hosted by South African all-rounder J.P. Duminy, star India batswoman Jemimah Rodrigues and a podcaster.
"I have seen him, he is calm, he likes to listen, he likes to give confidence to the players and on top of that, he likes to lead from the front. When the captain leads from the front and at the same time gives respect to the dressing room atmosphere, you know you have it all," Raina said.
"He thinks everyone is a captain. I have seen him, I have played under him when we won the Asia Cup in Bangladesh. I have seen how he gives confidence to young players like Shardul (Thakur), Washington Sundar and (Yuzvendra) Chahal.
"Around him, players enjoy the intensity, they enjoy his aura. I think when you enjoy the aura of a player, you like to be positive and I think that is what he is good at. He is one of the top-most, after M.S. Dhoni, who was brilliant. He has won more (IPL) trophies than MS, but I would say they both are very similar. Both of them, as a captain, like to listen.
"When your captain is listening, you can solve a lot of problems, you can solve the mental problems of the players. So in my book, they both are wonderful," Raina said.
