Former Coach R Sridhar: Rohit Sharma Possessed the Same Competitive Drive as Virat Kohli

Former Indian fielding coach R Sridhar has presented a contrasting perspective on Rohit Sharma’s playing style, asserting that the opening batsman shared the same intensity and keenness as Virat Kohli, despite widespread contrary perceptions. Sridhar served as India’s fielding coach from 2014 to 2021, a tenure during which Kohli largely captained the team while Rohit operated as a crucial opener.

Sridhar’s remarks counter the prevalent assumption that Sharma’s demeanor indicated a deficiency in competitive drive. The former coach stressed the necessity of comprehending individual personalities and adapting coaching strategies to suit each player’s unique temperament.

“Rohit was similar to Virat. Many people would assume, looking at Rohit, that he doesn’t have the intensity or is too laid-back. That’s completely wrong. He had the same intensity and keenness as Virat but just did things differently. It was important to know the person more than the player as each one was different.” Sridhar said on Subramaniam Badrinath’s YouTube channel.

Rohit thrived on challenge and rejected comfort

Sharma’s approach to practice and training underscored his competitive nature, manifesting in ways that contrasted with Kohli’s more overt intensity. Sridhar revealed that Sharma thrived on constant challenges and actively rejected comfort in his preparation routines.

“He was a player who needed to be pushed and had to always be challenged. You had to match his intensity as a coach in a fielding drill or throwdown. He always wanted to be challenged and used to hate comfort-zone practice. Everything had to be outside the comfort zone for him,” Sridhar said.

Sridhar’s insights underscore the diverse methods through which elite cricketers sustain their competitive edge. He emphasized that understanding individual personalities was vital for coaching staff managing players of varying temperaments. The former coach also drew comparisons to other members of the Indian setup, noting that off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was exceptionally curious, asking questions on every topic, and finding immense satisfaction once he obtained the answers.

Both Kohli and Sharma have since stepped away from specific formats. They retired from T20 Internationals in 2024 and from Test cricket in 2025, though both continue to feature in One Day Internationals.

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