Can Rohit Match Dhoni’s 21-Test Legacy?

Rohit Sharma has faced both triumphs and setbacks in his role as captain in 2024. Hardik Pandya replaced him early in the year as captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of the IPL season. However, he led India to a memorable victory in the T20 World Cup, bringing joy to fans across the country. On the flip side, he recently became the first Indian captain to face a 3-0 whitewash in a home Test series.

In his 21 Tests as captain, the 37-year-old has achieved 12 wins and endured seven losses, with two matches ending in draws. This record gives Rohit a Test win rate of 57.14%. Of his seven defeats, five have come at home—one each to Australia and England and three to New Zealand. Abroad, he suffered a loss against South Africa in December 2023 in Centurion, and earlier in the same year, India faced a setback against Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval.

Rohit’s leadership style has often been compared to that of MS Dhoni, the legendary former Indian captain. By the time Dhoni had captained 21 Tests, he had won 13 games, lost only two, and had six draws, holding a slightly higher win rate of 61.9%.

Rohit Sharma vs. MS Dhoni: Comparing 21-Test Captaincy Records

In terms of Test losses early in his captaincy, Dhoni experienced two—one against South Africa in Nagpur in 2010, where India lost by an innings and six runs, and another against Sri Lanka in Galle, where they were defeated by 10 wickets.

As for their batting stats in their first 21 Tests as captains, Rohit scored 1,223 runs at an average of 33.97 with four centuries, all in winning matches. Dhoni, on the other hand, scored 1,324 runs with an average of 52.96, hitting three centuries.

Both captains have had unique leadership paths, marked by their individual styles and achievements.

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