Renowned former Pakistani cricketer delivers a compelling message to Rohit Sharma, urging him to embody the commanding presence of Virat Kohli on the field.


With India's upcoming tour of the West Indies scheduled for next month, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently disclosed the squads for the Test and ODI series. Rohit Sharma has been appointed as the captain for both formats, with Ajinkya Rahane and Hardik Pandya selected as his deputies for Tests and ODIs, respectively. In a significant development, veteran batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has been excluded from the team due to his underwhelming performance in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Providing insights into India's squad, former Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal expressed his opinions on the forthcoming tour.

Akmal commented that although Rohit Sharma has performed admirably as India's Test captain in his brief tenure, he should display more authority on the field, emulating his predecessor, Virat Kohli.


"It's a well-balanced team. The Indian squad needs a strong start. I urge Rohit Sharma to elevate his captaincy performance. Show the commanding presence on the field, reminiscent of Virat Kohli's leadership. He has been given an opportunity. Nevertheless, Rohit Sharma has done a commendable job thus far, considering the circumstances surrounding the Kohli situation," Akmal expressed on his YouTube channel.

While acknowledging the selectors' efforts, Akmal raised concerns over the omission of Sarfaraz Khan and Umran Malik.


"When it comes to squad selection, there's always room for debate about one or two players. One player who immediately comes to mind, considering his records, is Sarfaraz Khan. It may not have been possible to include him in the playing XI, but he should have been given the opportunity to travel with the team. Just a gesture to let him know that he is not being ignored and there remains a chance for him in the future. This tour would have been the perfect opportunity to have him in the squad. Additionally, Umran Malik, with his impressive pace, could have been a potent weapon. The pitches in West Indies tend to be dry, and with the Dukes ball, there's a good chance of obtaining reverse swing," he elaborated.