Criticism of Rohit Sharma’s captaincy from Former England star

Former English spinner expresses strong opinions about Rohit Sharma’s captaincy following England’s unexpected 28-run victory over India in the first Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Monty Panesar, former English cricketer, shared his thoughts on Rohit Sharma’s leadership in an exclusive conversation with ANI. He stated that Rohit appeared ‘clueless’ and emphasized the significance of the win for England. Panesar suggested that India should reconsider granting excessive freedom to English players and remarked that with Virat Kohli in the team, the response might have been more aggressive. He also praised Ollie Pope and Tom Hartley’s performances, speculating that if they maintain their form, England could secure a 5-0 series victory. Panesar concluded by expressing that Virat Kohli’s ‘presence and intensity’ are currently missing from the Indian team, emphasizing the need for Rohit Sharma to prove himself in Kohli’s absence. He highlighted Ollie Pope’s exceptional innings and Tom Hartley’s impressive debut, which played pivotal roles in England’s victory, mentioning Hartley’s effective spin and uneven bounce, causing trouble for Indian batters, leading to England’s control of the game.