"There was Virat Kohli, before that there was MS Dhoni" - Rohit Sharma opens up on future India captain during BGT 2024-25 5th Test

Team India skipper Rohit Sharma has opened up on who can lead India in Tests in the future. The comments came midway through the fifth Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Rohit, who reaffirmed his commitment to lead India in Tests earlier today (Saturday, January 4), will soon turn 38. Vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah is also past 30 and the team management will want to look at someone who can lead India in Test cricket for a long time.

Despite not naming anyone, Rohit stated that whoever leads the team in the future needs to earn it like every other captain has done. He pointed out that captaining India will come with pressure before adding that it's an extremely honorable job.

"Very difficult to answer this," Rohit Sharma said in an interview with Star Sports. "There are a lot of good guys. But, I want to tell something to the young boys: ‘first understand the importance of cricket. Understand the gravity of international cricket.' I know they should be given responsibility. But, let them earn it. Let them play some hard-fought cricket for the next few years. Let them earn it."

"See, there is Jasprit Bumrah now, before that there was Virat Kohli, before that there was MS Dhoni," he continued. "Everybody earned it. No one got it on a platter. I don’t think anyone should get it that way. They should earn it. The young boys have a lot of talent. I also want to say one thing: Captaining India is not a simple thing. There is pressure, but there it is a great honor. Looking at our history and looking at the way we are playing our cricket, it’s a great honor."

In Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah's absence, KL Rahul has also led the Test side. Rahul has captained India in three Tests, winning two and losing one.

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"Every day can’t be a good day" - Rohit Sharma on his criticism as captain

Rohit Sharma has come under criticism following India's poor returns in Tests lately. India suffered a 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand before going 1-2 down in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Reacting to the criticisms hurled at him, Rohit said in the same interview:

"See as a leader, every day can’t be a good day. You have to accept that. And what you were doing right three months before, it doesn’t go bad in three months. Your mindset is the same. The captaincy I was doing 5-6 months ago, I have the same mindset, same ideology, same thought process, same messaging. But, sometimes, the results don’t come our way. Then people say ‘this guy is bad, what’s happening?'"

"I know 140 crore people judge you in India. That’s what it is. But, I believe in my methods and idealogy as a captain. I don’t want to change that. People will say things, but that doesn’t mean I will doubt myself. No one goes into a match thinking about losing it. Everybody wants to win," he concluded.

So far, Rohit Sharma has led India in 24 Tests, winning 12 and losing nine. He has a win percentage of 50.