India captain left surprised as Rohit Sharma texts him at 2.30 am: 'Kuch baat karni hai. Are you up?'

Indian captain Rohit Sharma has garnered immense praise for his exceptional leadership abilities, evident in his roles within both the national team and IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, which he has captained since 2013. Widely regarded as one of the most successful captains in IPL history, Rohit achieved his first major triumph with the Indian team earlier this year as they clinched the T20 World Cup in June. Despite heartbreaking losses in the finals of the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup in 2023, Rohit's strategic acumen and inspirational leadership have elevated India's performance to new heights on the international stage.

In recent years, numerous cricketers have praised their experiences working under Rohit Sharma, often highlighting the strong camaraderie they share with the 37-year-old Indian captain. Piyush Chawla, the veteran Indian spinner who played under Rohit’s leadership during the 2023 IPL season, has now added his voice, speaking highly of the unwavering commitment the then-Mumbai Indians skipper displayed towards the team.

Chawla had a strong season in 2023, picking 22 wickets in 16 matches and ending as the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the season. The spinner recalled a moment during the season when Rohit called Chawla to his room at 2:30 in the night to discuss a strategy against Delhi Capitals' opener, David Warner.

"I've played so much cricket with him that we've reached a comfort level. We sit off-the-field as well. Once, at 2:30 in the night, he texted me and asked, "you up?" He drew a field on paper and discussed with me about potentially dismissing Warner. Even at that time, he was thinking about how he could get the best out of me," Chawla told Shubhankar Mishra on YouTube.

Mumbai Indians qualified for the playoffs in the 2023 season, but lost to Gujarat Titans in the second qualifier match in Ahmedabad. Chennai Super Kings went on to win the season. Hardik Pandya eventually succeeded Rohit as MI's skipper later in the year.

Chawla further emphasised that Rohit Sharma is more of a “leader” than a captain, citing the examples from the previous year's ODI World Cup and the T20 World Cup this year.

“There's a captain, then there's a leader. He isn't a captain, he is a leader. Whether it was 2023 ODI WC, or the 2024 T20 WC, the way he batted, he sets the tone in such a way that he made it easy for next batters. He's a true leader. He gives you a free hand,” said Chawla.