5 reasons why Rohit Sharma should not captain team India in the 2019 World Cup

Indian cricket never stops to grow and amaze us. This current team is the next big thing in World Cricket and make no mistake, a team to beat as well.

One aspect that has always fascinated us is the presence of leaders within the team. They have no shortage of leaders and even if there is, they have the great MS Dhoni to guide the new skipper. Not many teams have this. Australia is struggling to find a winning captain with less than a year to go for the World Cup. On the other hand, India has Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni (in case both of those players aren't available). They are tried and tested captains in world cricket and both have tasted some massive success.

The mantle currently rests with Rohit Sharma as Virat was rested for the recently concluded Asia Cup. Virat is expected to retain the role once he makes a comeback. I use the word "expected" because some people are of the opinion that Rohit Sharma should captain the Indian team in One Day Internationals. I don't agree with this at all.

Rohit Sharma might be a good captain but replacing Virat Kohli is not an easy job and is a vague move, considering the World Cup is less than 9 months away. Let's have a look at 5 reasons why Rohit Sharma shouldn't captain this team in the long run.

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#5 IPL success cannot be used as a parameter

Lifting a world trophy and an IPL trophy are two different things

Rohit Sharma has won the IPL thrice with the Mumbai Indians, with him leading on all the three occasions. I don't believe that IPL success should be used as a parameter. There is a fine difference between International cricket and IPL. International cricket is way more intense and presents the players with high-pressure situations more than IPL does.

Yes, Virat Kohli has not won the IPL but we are forgetting that he hasn't failed to lead from the front. He has never had a settled team at his disposal, a team that knows how to deliver the finishing punch. Luck plays an important role in the IPL and Virat Kohli has been unlucky so far. He has been part of three finals with RCB and has lost all three of them. This does tell one a lot.

Virat's captaincy has shown us that this Indian team is willing to fight and won't easily back down from it. This was present during Dada's but somewhat looked faded when Dhoni captained the Test side.

#4 Experience

Virat is way more experienced than Rohit

Virat is way more experienced in leading India against competitive opponents like England and South Africa, away from home. India dominated South Africa in the limited overs format and lost 2-1 in Tests but what we are focusing on is the ODIs.

In England, they did win the T20 series but narrowly lost out on the ODI trophy, losing 2-1. What's even more important is that Virat has the experience of leading in tough and swinging conditions and then coming out on top. This would really matter in the 2019 World Cup. Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, has only captained India on Asian tracks which are of little significance, keeping the 2019 World Cup in mind.

#3 Leading from the front

Virat is way more experienced and better when it comes to leading from the front

Virat knows how to lead from the front, consistently. I'm not saying that Rohit Sharma doesn't lead from the front but is he really that reliable? Rohit Sharma's personality on the crease is a bit like Sehwag's - destructive. But was Sehwag really reliable? It was only when he got set.

Virat on the other hand is a reliable number 3 player who plays according to the situation and adjusts his game plan. This is something that Rohit Sharma lacks. Some may argue that being an opener is tough but when you're captaining an Indian team, you have to make it look easy.

Virat scores consistently and more often than not lays the platform on which his team can stand and finish things off.

#2 ICC Champions Trophy 2017 success

India were unfortunate to have finished second

Virat lead India to the finals of the Champions Trophy 2017 on English soil. The World Cup will be held in United Kingdon as well. Unfortunately, India couldn't cross the finishing line and ended up being runners-up.

Having said that, Virat is a quick learner and since he lost that final, he might have very well come up with a formula to cross the finishing line. He might just do it in 2019 to get the ultimate prize.

#1 Knowing the team

Virat certainly knows this team better than Rohit does

After MS if anyone knows the team inside out, it is Virat Kohli. It plays a major role in captaincy, knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your players. Virat has identified with these although there are some areas yet to fill (number 4 spot), but the fact is that Virat knows this team inside out.

He precisely knows which player to play in which conditions (errors do happen sometimes) and that's the ultimate job of the skipper of the team. Players have their game-plan set according to a particular condition and when it is given to them, they excel. Virat has realized this and Rohit is still in his early stages of captaincy to even come close to this. When you know your team inside-out, you have won 50% of the battle even before you have stepped into the field.

In my opinion, Virat is the perfect bet for India and all this vague speculation of Rohit Sharma replacing Virat as the skipper should be put to rest.