Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has spoken warmly about Rohit Sharma's captaincy, saying the India skipper's instinct to absorb criticism and protect his players was the defining quality that kept the dressing room united through some of the team's most difficult periods.

Accountability Over Blame

Nayar, reflecting on his tenure with the national side, recalled a specific moment after the Mumbai Test defeat that illustrated Rohit's character. 'We had Rohit Sharma as captain, and I remember him coming out after the Mumbai Test and saying in the press conference, ‘It’s okay. We’ve won so many series, we’ve lost this one, and I’ll take responsibility for it.’ That’s who Rohit was. There was always that side of him that could lighten the mood and make sure the team was okay,' Nayar said in an interview to JioStar.

He added that Rohit's approach to defeat was consistently player-first. 'The quality I admired most about Rohit was that he always took responsibility. He would never come out and blame anyone by saying, ‘You did this’ or ‘You did that.’ Instead, he would put his hand up and say, ‘I failed.’ You would never hear him making excuses or throwing someone under the bus,' Nayar said.

Trust Built Through Honest Communication

According to Nayar, Rohit's influence stretched well beyond on-field tactics. He credited the captain's direct, unvarnished communication as the bedrock of the trust he commanded in the dressing room. 'I remember the Sydney Test when Rohit didn’t play. He still came out, gave the interview, and said exactly what he had to say. He never sugar-coated anything. That’s why the team trusted him,' Nayar noted.

Nayar also pointed out that even young cricketers who were reprimanded by Rohit responded positively, because they understood the intent behind it. 'Ask any young cricketer, even today, and they’ll speak very fondly about Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. They’ll tell you that even when he scolded them, they took it seriously because they knew it came from a place of trust and genuine care,' he said.

The Sanju Samson Moment in Barbados

Nayar highlighted a telling episode involving wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, who was left out of the T20 World Cup final in Barbados. Despite Samson not being in the playing eleven, Rohit reportedly ensured he spoke to him before the toss, prioritising the player's emotional well-being over the pressures of a World Cup final. 'Those difficult phases were a little easier because Rohit Sharma was around,' Nayar stated.

A Captain Who Looked After His Own

Nayar emphasised that Rohit's empathy was not performative. After every defeat, Rohit would assess which players had been most affected — those who had gone without runs or had a difficult outing — and make a deliberate effort to restore their confidence. This player-first philosophy, Nayar suggested, was central to the cohesion India maintained even in lean patches. With Rohit's captaincy era now drawing reflection, Nayar's account adds a significant human dimension to how India's dressing room functioned at its best.