Jonty Rhodes praises Rohit Sharma's mischievous nature

INDC Network : Sports : Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma has always been known for his humorous nature, whether on or off the field. Since taking over the captaincy, this side of him has especially caught the attention of fans and commentators. Former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes is also one of those who recently expressed surprise at Rohit's mischievous comments, which are often captured on the stump microphone during the match.

Rohit has always been one of those players who enjoys light-hearted banter with his teammates and never misses a chance to have a laugh with the journalists even during press conferences. This jovial nature of his has now started to come out to the fans as well, especially since his conversations have started getting recorded on the stump mic. For instance, during the Vizag Test earlier this year, Rohit jokingly warned the youngsters, "If anyone roams around in the garden...". Similarly, in a T20 match against Afghanistan, Rohit jokingly expressed his surprise when umpire Virender Sharma ruled a ball off his bat as a leg bye.

Jonty Rhodes, who has seen Rohit emerge as one of the giants of world cricket, says this mischievous nature has always been a part of Rohit's personality. In an interview with Rev Sports, Rhodes said the way Rohit interacts with his teammates is very different and fun. "He's quite a mischievous guy. He says certain things on the stump mic and you think, 'Hey! Do you know people are listening to you, Rohit?' I don't understand all of what he says, but it always gets transmitted and translated," he said.

A special aspect of Rohit's captaincy is his excellent rapport with the youngsters in the team. According to Rhodes, Rohit's elder brother-like attitude is the reason behind this. The legendary cricketer, who revolutionised fielding during his playing days, said, "He has been brilliant in terms of captaincy. I was with him for a few seasons in Mumbai Indians (MI). He developed himself as a captain there and that is his biggest quality."

Rhodes also praised Rohit's aggressive attitude, especially in white-ball cricket. He said that the way Rohit has developed his game is not surprising. Rohit always wants the opposition teams not to understand his methods, so he has constantly improved himself. Sharing his experience, Rhodes said that cricketers have to reinvent themselves to remain at the international level. He said, "If you look at Rohit, you will find that he has played so much cricket that if you do not improve yourself, you will get stuck. People will understand you."

Even at the age of 37, Rohit Sharma continues to be a brilliant performer and Rhodes believes the Indian captain has some of his best years ahead of him, especially in the shortest format. He said even if Rohit's international career comes to an end, it doesn't mean his cricket career is over. There are still plenty of opportunities in leagues like the IPL, and from that perspective, Rhodes feels Rohit still has some of his best years ahead of him.