India’s newly appointed white-ball captain
Rohit Sharma said former limited-overs captain Virat Kohli has taken the team
to a level from where “there is no looking back” and “he led from the front
every time we stepped onto the park”.

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“He’s put the team in a situation
where there is no looking back. Those five years he has led the team, he led
from the front every time we stepped onto the park. There was clear grit and
determination to win every game. That was the message to the entire
squad,” Rohit Sharma said while speaking in a video posted by the BCCI.

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“We had a great time playing under
him. I have played a lot of cricket with him, I have enjoyed each and every
moment and I’ll still continue to do that. We need to keep getting better as a
team and as individuals and that will be the focus not just for me but for the
entire squad moving forward,” he added.

The BCCI appointed Rohit Sharma as India’s
white-ball captain last week while announcing an 18-member squad for the
upcoming Test series against South Africa. BCCI’s decision to name Rohit as
India’s ODI captain after handing over the T20I captaincy has stunned the
Indian cricketing fraternity. While stepping down as a T20I captain after the
T20 World Cup in the UAE in November, Kohli had said that he would now focus on
ODIs and Tests.

Also Read: Thank you captain: BCCI’s message to former ODI skipper Virat Kohli

34-year-old Rohit Sharma, however, was all
praise for his predecessor, Kohli. “There was clear grit and determination to
win every game,” Rohit said about Kohli’s approach towards the game as a
captain.

‘Deeply honoured and happy’

Rohit’s first assignment as full-time
white-ball captain will be a three-match ODI series in South Africa that begins
at Boland Park in Paarl on January 19. On being appointed captain of India’s
ODI and T20I teams, Rohit said he is “deeply honoured” and “happy about it”.

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“Deeply honoured and grateful for the
opportunity. It’s a huge opportunity and I’m absolutely happy about it. I look
forward to leading Team India in white-ball cricket. It’s going to be an
exciting journey,” said Rohit, who was earlier Kohli’s deputy in
limited-overs formats.

Before the ODIs, Rohit will focus on the
Test series as he has also been appointed deputy to Kohli in Tests.

Also Read: BCCI announces Rohit as ODI, T20I captain; name 18-man squad for SA Tests

India will play a three-match Test series
in South Africa, starting from December 26 at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.
The second Test will begin on January 3 at The Wanderers Stadium in
Johannesburg while the third and final match will be played at Newlands, Cape
Town from January 11.

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The ODI series will start on January 19 in
Paarl.