KEY HIGHLIGHTS

l In the frenetic pace of highpressure tournaments like IPL, the captain plays a critical role and takes all major decisions himself.

l Though the evolution of T20s has brought with it a great deal of emphasis on data, planning and match-ups, the ability to think on your feet is still the key non-negotiable.

Rohit Sharma Marshalling Mi

Then it’s Rohit Sharma marshalling the Mumbai Indians who are gunning for their 6th title. Between Dhoni and Rohit, they have 9 out of the total 15 IPL titles. It’s no wonder that after Virat quit captaincy, Rohit was made the Indian captain for all formats. His tactical manoeuvres plus his calm approach have become his strengths. Against Lucknow in the Eliminator, he was instrumental in selecting Akash Madhwal who picked up 5 wickets for 5 runs on the night winning the game easily for Mumbai.

But Rohit is still an underrated captain - compared to the likes of Dhoni or Virat Kohli. This opinion was also highlighted by Indian legend, Sunil Gavaskar as he talked about how Rohit has not got his due even after winning 5 IPL championships.

Gavaskar pointed out that Rohit’s decision to bring Nehal Wadhera as an ‘impact player’ in the first innings which eventually worked well for Mumbai. Perhaps another IPL win will propel him to be talked of in the same breath as Dhoni!

I welcome the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in rejecting the frivolous petition seeking to interfere in the inauguration of the new Parliament building. #Parliament NewBuilding

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

Don’t judge according to appearances. Judge with right judgment. Bible

GUJARAT’S MOST SUCCESSFUL PANDYA

CAPTAINCY MATTERS AS IPL GRAND FINALE ARRIVES!The youngest among skippers in IPL 2023 is Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya who statistically has become the most successful captain in IPL history. Besides leading his team to title triumph in its debut season last year, Hardik has the highest win percentage among players who have captained a minimum of 20 matches in the IPL. He tops the list with an over 70% win record as Gujarat captain. While his record speaks for itself, the crucial feature of Hardik’s captaincy is the sense of comfort he displays with his team. Most cricket experts are deeply impressed with Pandya’s captaincy and believe he can stake claim for Team India leadership even in one-dayers after the ODI World Cup this year. While defending IPL crowns is never easy, not many will be surprised if Pandya leads his team to triumph in IPL 2023.

Confused Leadership

MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI ROHIT SHARMA HARDIK PANDYA PERSPECTIVE JAIPUR | SATURDAY, MAY 27, 2023 04 www.firstindia.co.in I https://firstindia.co.in/epapers/jaipur I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia ● Vol 4 ● Issue No. 349 ● RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Press, D.B. Corp Limited, Shivdaspura, Tonk Road, Jaipur. Published at 304, 3rd Floor, City Mall, Bhagwan Das Road, C-Scheme, Jaipur-302001, Rajasthan. Phone 0141-4920504. Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

Teams that have fared poorly like Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad are clear examples of confused leadership lacking clarity on how best to use their resources. In a fast-paced T20 game, captaincy remains the key to success. As IPL 2023 ends this weekend, it may well be that the best captain on the night of the final lifts the trophy. But irrespective of who grabs the glory, it’ll ultimately be a win for Indian cricket! THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY