India’s brand of cricket will depend on Rohit’s captaincy: Latif

Under Virat Kohli’s leadership, India prospered across the three formats, with the Delhi batsman taking the Men in Blue to the top of the rankings in the longest format. However, with Kohli now stepping down from the longest format, the onus is on Rohit Sharma to take the team to new levels. 

Former Pakistan skipper Rashid Latif insisted that the recent happenings in Indian cricket won’t have any bearing on the Indian ‘cricket brand’. 

"They have a strong base in the IPL and Indian cricket is now established as financially very strong so eventually I don't think these recent changes or happenings should have any bearing on Indian cricket as a brand," Latif said on the 'Cricket Baaz' Youtube channel.

"I think a lot now depends on how Rohit Sharma handles the team but he has his own style of leading the side and he has already achieved a lot with Mumbai Indians in the IPL,” he added.

While BCCI haven’t yet announced the replacement for Kohli, all reports point towards the 34-year-old Rohit. 

"When I stepped down as captain in 2004 it was only after I spoke with our board chairman. That is why I am saying I think the BCCI has made a mistake in the way it handled this particular issue. It is not good for Indian cricket."

Kohli announced his decision of stepping down from captaincy following India’s 2-1 loss against South Africa, away from home. 

"When you have someone as a leader for five years or more and so successful as captain that obviously they are people in the team who are loyal to him and it does disturb the dressing room environment."