From young talent to calm captain: Bengaluru hears Rohit Sharma’s story

Fresh from being named a Padma awardee, Rohit Sharma’s journey took centre stage in Bengaluru on an evening that felt less like a book launch of The Rise of Hitman, by R Kaushik, and more like a stroll through Indian cricket’s memory lane. As former cricketers and fans gathered, KSCA president and former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad, alongside former India coach Rahul Dravid, reflected on watching a shy, immensely gifted teenager evolve into one of the calmest captains the country has seen — a transformation shaped as much by patience and temperament as by effortless power-hitting.I saw Rohit's talent when he was just 16: Venkatesh PrasadI first watched Rohit when he was just 16, and it was immediately clear to me that he had immense talent and potential. He reminded me of Mark Waugh. When I was coaching the India Under-19 team, Rohit was always marked out as a special player. What stood out to me was his unique style — what I often call his ‘lazy elegance’ — the way he hit long sixes with such ease and timed the ball so cleanly. He was also a very good fielder and even bowled off-spin in domestic cricket. In fact, he once took six wickets in a match, something people often forget. That said, I never imagined him as a future captain back then. During his Under-19 days, I didn’t see any real sparks of leadership. He was never an overthinker. But look at him today — calm, composed, and assured on the field. He reinvented himself from a middle-order batter to an opener, and eventually, into a captain. That transformation has been remarkable to watch.Rohit understood the needs of modern cricket: Rahul DravidRohit has a terrific cricketing brain. He clearly understood the transition of white-ball cricket and took responsibility for setting the tempo of the innings. Having worked very closely with him as the Indian coach, I’ve seen that awareness firsthand. Leadership becomes much tougher once you take on the role of captain, because you’re no longer just thinking about your own game — you’re making decisions for everyone else. But Rohit is very much a people person. He enjoys the dressing-room environment and, importantly, he never really changed after becoming captain. Communication within the team was always clear and consistent.In big moments, his calmness really stands out.