By Swapneel Deshpande 26 Oct 2023, 12:49 IST
In a recent interview with Star Sports, Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian cricket team, shed light on his approach to managing players and leading the team to success. Following India’s impressive 4-wicket victory over New Zealand, the team is now at the top of the ICC Cricket World Cup table, having secured five consecutive wins. As they prepare for a crucial match against defending champions England, Rohit Sharma shared his perspective on leadership and player management.
Rohit Sharma stressed the importance of understanding each player as an individual, taking into account their likes, dislikes, and requirements. He emphasized that cricket is a team sport, and success depends on every player contributing their best. To achieve this, Sharma believes in maintaining a positive mental space for every team member.
He described his approach as putting himself in each player’s shoes, considering their current needs. Over the years, he has learned to provide the space and freedom required for players to execute their roles effectively. He also acknowledged the supportive environment created by the players and the coaching staff, who understand the team’s requirements.
Sharma admitted that this empathetic leadership style wasn’t innate but was developed through personal experiences and understanding what it takes for a team to be successful. He emphasized that creating a comfortable, pressure-free atmosphere is crucial, particularly during high-profile tournaments like the ICC Cricket World Cup.
“I think when it comes to managing players, it’s quite important that you understand the individual first and their requirement, what are the likes and dislikes of that particular individual because you know in a team sport it’s just not about one or two individuals or few individuals, it’s about everyone.We do understand as well that when you want to win championships, big tournaments, everyone need to come to the party and play their part. So, it’s important that you keep everyone in good mental space. So, it’s very important to hear everyone out, understand what they want, how they want to operate and things like that and then you take everything into consideration and move forward and that is something that I always do.
I try and put myself in their shoes and think about what this individual will be needing now. So, it’s important to think like that and you know luckily, I have got good bunch of guys around me; the players, the support staffs are quite understanding in terms of the requirement of the team, the players and everyone. So, yeah that is something that I wouldn’t say comes naturally to me, I’ve learned it over the years, gone through my personal experiences and understood what is needed for a team to be successful.”
The Indian captain’s insights shed light on the role of leadership in cricket and other team sports. His emphasis on understanding and catering to the individual needs of each player contributes to a harmonious team environment, allowing players to perform at their best without external worries.
As Team India continues its impressive campaign in the ICC Cricket World Cup, Rohit Sharma’s leadership and player management strategies will be closely observed, as they could be a key factor in the team’s quest for victory.
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Recommended to you