Sachin Tendulkar believes Rohit Sharma’s captaincy played a key role in Mumbai Indians march to the title this season.
Mumbai turned around a miserable start – five losses in the first six games – in spectacular fashion by winning nine of their next 10 matches that culminated in their second triumph in the Indian Premier League.
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Sharma was at the centre of the team’s incredible run providing batting leadership, scoring 482 runs. He was equally good while
defending totals, ringing in the right bowling changes besides keeping a cool head in tense situations.
Sharma led the run-charge in the final as well, scoring a 26-ball 50 as Mumbai trounced Chennai Super Kings by 41 runs in the final at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Sunday.
Sharma was the captain when Mumbai last won the IPL in 2013 but Tendulkar feels the 28-year-old stylish batsman has improved as a leader.
“If you compare him with what he was when he started out as MI’s captain, he is a far better captain today,” the batting legend said.
A final hurrah! from our captain @ImRo45 #IPL Champions 2015! #ApunKaSuperstar pic.twitter.com/OnjYMzmhoM
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 25, 2015
“He is much more confident now. He has gone through a lot of ups and downs as MI’s captain and has faced a lot of challenges.
“These challenges only make you a better cricketer and a tougher person,” said Tendulkar, who is also the team’s mentor.
“I think his execution has been particularly good this season. Whatever we planned in the meetings and dressing room, he has been able to execute them very well. You can tell a lot about the captain from the feedback the bowlers give you.
“The bowlers bowl in the areas and execute the plans that the captain asks them to. We can plan many things behind closed doors but it is up to the captain, the bowlers and the fielders to bring it all together. Rohit has done that well,” Tendulkar explained.
Thank you Mumbai for turning up at wankhede. It belongs to you’ll as much as it is to us @mipaltan
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) May 25, 2015
Tendulkar insists at no point did the team lose hope and that every member of the squad has worked hard for the success.
“We had a difficult start, really tough one. But those are the testing moments. That’s when the team stuck together and we worked hard,” he told iplt20.com.
“This victory is not a coincidence; it is the reflection of all the hard work that we have put in. All of us truly believed that we could change things around.
“It is not how you start but how you finish that matters,” he added.
