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Rohit Sharma is the most successful captain in Indian Premier League (IPL) history. The Mumbai Indians skipper has led his franchise to five championship triumphs in the last eight seasons. No other captain has won more than three IPL trophies, which highlights Rohit's brilliance.
However, there was a period where Rohit Sharma featured in his team's playing XI as a regular top-order batsman only. Five players have had the honor of captaining Rohit in the IPL. Here's a list of those five cricketers.
5. Ricky Ponting handed over MI's captaincy to Rohit Sharma in 2013
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Current Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting played his last IPL season for the Mumbai Indians in 2013. Since Ponting was past his prime, he could not get going with the bat. As a result, he dropped himself from the Mumbai playing XI despite being the team's captain.
Ponting handed the squad's reins to Rohit Sharma, who was playing his third IPL season for the Mumbai Indians. Many fans considered it a bold move because Rohit had never captained in the IPL before.
Rohit Sharma surprised fans by turning Mumbai's fortunes and eventually guiding MI to the championship in the 2013 season. Before Rohit became the skipper, he played six matches under Ponting's leadership that year.
4. Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh captained the Mumbai Indians team in IPL 2012. Veteran batsman Sachin Tendulkar stepped down as the leader just a few days before the team's first match against the Chennai Super Kings.
Harbhajan had led the Mumbai-based franchise to the Champions League T20 2011 trophy in Tendulkar's absence. Sachin also needed a break from leadership duties, asking Harbhajan to take over as the skipper.
Rohit Sharma emerged as a match-winner for the franchise under Harbhajan Singh's captaincy. He aggregated 433 runs in 16 innings and slammed his maiden IPL ton that season.
Unfortunately, the Harbhajan Singh-led outfit lost the Eliminator to the Chennai Super Kings. The following year, Ricky Ponting replaced Harbhajan as captain.
3. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar was the first player to captain Rohit Sharma at the Mumbai Indians. Tendulkar guided the Mumbai-based franchise to the runners-up spot in 2010, and he continued leading the team after Rohit's arrival in 2011.
Rohit scored 372 runs in 14 innings during his first season for the Mumbai Indians. His batting performances helped the Sachin Tendulkar-led side qualify for the playoffs. Unfortunately, they could not beat the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Qualifier 2, which resulted in their exit.
Tendulkar had always been Rohit's idol, and to share the stage with him would have been a great moment for the current MI skipper.
2. Rohit Sharma won his first IPL title under Adam Gilchrist's captaincy
Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist was the second captain to win the IPL trophy. The southpaw turned around the Deccan Chargers' fortunes in 2009. The Chargers finished last in the 2008 IPL. However, Gilchrist led the side brilliantly and took them to the champions' podium the next year.
It is noteworthy the Deccan Chargers finished fourth in the league round, but they beat IPL points table toppers Delhi Capitals and third-placed Royal Challengers Bangalore in the knockouts to clinch their maiden trophy.
Rohit Sharma played an important role in Deccan's success. He claimed the 'U-23 Player of the Season' award that year for his 362 runs at a strike rate of 114.92.
Very few fans might remember that 22-year-old Rohit Sharma was the vice-captain of the Deccan Chargers team.
1. VVS Laxman
Current Sunrisers Hyderabad mentor VVS Laxman led the Deccan Chargers during the inaugural IPL season. Rohit Sharma was a part of the Deccan set up that season as well.
The Deccan Chargers ended the 2008 season with only two victories to their name. Laxman could not lead by example and got injured in the second phase of the season. As a result, the Chargers replaced him with Adam Gilchrist.
Laxman was thus the first player to have captained Rohit Sharma, now the most successful IPL captain, in the Indian Premier League.
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