'At 2:30 in the night, Rohit Sharma texted me and asked...'

NEW DELHI: Veteran Indian spinner Piyush Chawla commended Rohit Sharma for his exceptional captaincy skills and unwavering dedication to the Mumbai Indians franchise. He highlighted Rohit's steadfast loyalty and the tireless effort he put forth for the team's success.Chawla emphasized how Rohit's leadership played a crucial role in guiding Mumbai Indians to numerous victories.In the 2023 IPL season, Chawla showcased his prowess on the field, securing 22 wickets across 16 matches. His impressive performance placed him as the fourth-highest wicket-taker throughout the season.The spinner shared an anecdote from the season, revealing an instance when Rohit summoned him to his room at the unusual hour of 2:30 AM."I've played so much cricket with him that we've reached a comfort level. We sit off-the-field as well. Once, at 2:30 in the night, he texted me and asked, "you up?" He drew a field on paper and discussed with me about potentially dismissing Warner. Even at that time, he was thinking about how he could get the best out of me," Chawla told Shubhankar Mishra on YouTube.Chawla stressed that Rohit's influence extends beyond his role as a captain, highlighting his leadership qualities. He referred to instances from the ODI World Cup held last year and the recent T20 World Cup to support his point."There's a captain, then there's a leader. He isn't a captain, he is a leader. Whether it was 2023 ODI WC, or the 2024 T20 WC, the way he batted, he sets the tone in such a way that he made it easy for next batters. He's a true leader. He gives you a free hand," said Chawla.Rohit-led Indian team ended the decade-long ICC title drought after beating South Africa in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 to lift their second title in the format. In 2023, the Men in Blue failed to win the World Test Championship and 2023 ODI World Cup under Rohit's leadership after losing to Australia in the finals.