"If RCB get a chance, take Rohit Sharma as a captain" - Mohammad Kaif on former MI skipper's potential availability at IPL 2025 auction

Mohammad Kaif believes the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) should acquire Rohit Sharma as their captain for IPL 2025 if the former Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper is available at the auction. He opined that the Indian Test and ODI skipper could help the Bengaluru-based franchise win their maiden IPL trophy.

Rohit seemed unhappy when MI replaced him with Hardik Pandya as their skipper before IPL 2024. It remains to be seen if the opener wants to be retained by the Mumbai-based franchise before the auction.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Kaif replied in the affirmative when asked whether RCB should look to onboard Rohit as skipper.

"RCB should take this chance. Somehow convince Rohit and make him the captain. He might not score that much as a batter, he scores forties and fifties, but I believe Rohit knows how to build an XI very well," he said.

"RCB will gain because of it. Their title drought can get over. He knows how to get the job done by placing his arm around the players' shoulders. He knows tactical moves, where each player needs to be fit in the XI. I believe if RCB get a chance, take Rohit Sharma as a captain," the former India batter added.

RCB have reached the IPL final on three occasions but have never lifted the trophy. They finished as the runners-up to the Deccan Chargers, the Chennai Super Kings, and the SunRisers Hyderabad in the 2009, 2011, and 2016 editions, respectively.

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"Rohit Sharma should play as a captain only in the IPL" - Mohammad Kaif

Rohit Sharma moved to the Mumbai Indians from the Deccan Chargers. [P/C: iplt20.com]

In the same discussion, Mohammad Kaif opined that Rohit Sharma should lead a side in IPL 2025.

"Rohit Sharma should play as a captain only in the IPL because he is such a great captain. He has come after winning the T20 World Cup. He would have offers. We know people would have been calling him and asking him to play for them. I feel he should take the role of a captain only, whichever franchise is offering it," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the Mumbaikar should play his remaining years in the IPL as a captain.

"Just like Hardik Pandya came here from Gujarat last time, Rohit can also go anywhere, and he should go. Rohit Sharma's remaining two or three years should be in the role of a leader only. What he can do on the field as a captain, a lot of people don't have that quality in the entire IPL. He has won the trophy five times (as captain)," Kaif reasoned.

Kaif pointed out that skeptics were saying Rohit's time was over and questioning why he was picked for the 2024 T20 World Cup. He added that the 37-year-old proved the naysayers wrong by going to New York and the West Indies and winning the global event with his experience.