Rohit Sharma reveals this Aussie legend as the best coach he’s ever played under!

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Image Courtesy: AP

In his senior cricket career spanning 13 years, Team India stalwart Rohit Sharma has experienced guidance from many top coaches in international and domestic levels. However,, there is but one particular name that he associates the tag of ‘best coach’ with. It is the one and only Ricky Ponting, the Australian cricketing legend whom Rohit Sharma considers to be the best he has played under.

Image Courtesy: AP

The revelation came in a live Instagram chat with English cricket superstar Kevin Pietersen. Speaking on various topics regarding the gentleman’s game, a question regarding Sharma’s time in the Indian Premier League came up.

The Mumbai Indians icon, who has been the captain of the franchise since 2013, was asked by Pietersen about the coach he considers the best in his career.

“Who’s been your favourite coach? Over the years, in your whole career, who has been your favourite coach?” the former England international asked Sharma.

“Very difficult to pick one name because they all bring something or the other to the table,” although he honoured all the coaches he has played under, Sharma specifically mentioned Ponting, the former Aussie captain who coached Mumbai Indians in three IPL seasons, from 2014 to 2016.

“Ricky Ponting to me was magic,” the 32 year old run machine replied.

Sharma continued on his appraisal of the Aussie legend: “He was playing a supporting role to all the players, to all the youngsters in the team and he was guiding me through the captaincy and yeah, I got to learn a lot from him.” 

A clip from the interview between the cricketers was uploaded on the official Instagram account of Mumbai Indians. Check it out below-

Ponting, who was appointed as a captain of Mumbai Indians in 2013, handed over the captain’s armband to Sharma in mid-season, an event that the hard hitting opener still cherishes to this day.

Under Sharma’s captaincy, MI went onto lift tour IPL trophies, and their second Champions League T20 victory in 2013.

Former Sri Lanka international Mahela Jayawardene is currently the coach in Mumbai, while Ponting has now switched sides with Delhi Capitals, where he has been the coach since 2018.

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