New Delhi: IPL is around the corner and Mumbai Indians and Rohit Sharma has been the most successful captain in the history of the tournament. Talking about MI, the former Indian coach Anil Kumble shared his views on Rohit’s captaincy and expressed that he wants him to bat at number 4 rather than opening.

Rohit began his career batting in the middle order and was promoted to the opening slot in the Indian team in ODIs. While he opens for India and has been playing at both opening and number 4 for MI. Kumble said that looking at the team combination, MI needs experience in the middle order. He added that there are wonderful batters in MI, but someone like Rohit Sharma in the middle while controlling seven to fifteen overs will be crucial.

About Rohit’s captaincy, Anil Kumble said that he had plenty of experienced players in the team and he reached out to them, but then he took his own decisions and that is what someone wants from a captain.

He appreciated Rohit leading a new team in 2017 and winning the tournament. Kumble said that in 2017 he had a new team and the kind of captaincy he did in terms of defending low scores, that is when the ‘true leadership’ is witnessed.

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Zaheer Khan is also JioCinema’s Insiders Preview appreciated Rohit’s captaincy and shed the light on the role of a captain in a long tournament. He said that Rohit has the ability to absorb the pressure not just on the field but in press conferences as well.

While IPL begins on March 31 with the game between GT and CSK, Mumbai Indians will begin their campaign on April 2 against RCB.