Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting knows how to win big championships and showed his selfless attitude by standing down as captain due to poor form two years ago when Mumbai Indians lifted their maiden IPL crown, said team captain Rohit Sharma today.
"He has already showed it in 2013 when he led in the first six games and made the huge decision of dropping himself from the team to get the balance right. You see such things very rarely. It does not happen every day," said Rohit when asked what impact Ponting as coach would have on the team this season.
"After that, as he said, he took over the mentoring role, the coaching role and got the team together. It turned out to be a tremendous phase for us. We went on to win the championship. We expect the same this year," said Rohit at a media conference.
"We understand each other pretty well. His thinking of the game is really broad. He understands the game really well. He was the leader of the Australian side and he won them two World Cups (2003 and 2007). He knows how to win big tournaments. He brings a lot to the table. I am sure this year is also going to be another exciting year for us," said a confident MI skipper ahead of their season-opening clash against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.
Rohit said he was blessed that there were so many top former cricketers to guide him and the team.
"In that way, my job was very easy. I did not have to do too much of a thinking. Whatever team I was given, I would take that to the field. There were a lot of positives.
"These are big names in the world of cricket. What they think of the game is very valuable. You understand from what point they are talking. So it is important and very good to have these guys around, helping not just the young players but the whole squad."
He was referring to the team having retired legend Sachin Tendulkar as its icon, former India captain and leg spinner Anil Kumble in an advisory capacity, among others.
