Just a few moments after guiding India to its seventh Asia Cup title, stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma was asked by media whether he is ready to take the responsibility of captaincy on the long-term basis. While responding to the question, Sharma was all smiles as he said that he would be ready for it whenever it comes to him.

“Absolutely (laughs)..we have just won, so I am ready. Whenever the opportunity comes, I will be ready,” a beaming Rohit Sharma said.

Team India head coach Ravi Shastri also heaped praises on Rohit Sharma. “Rohit was a calming influence and it showed on his captaincy. To keep his intensity going even after the start they had, showed he was really cool in every aspect of captaincy, the bowling changes he made were really good, to concede just around 100 runs in the last 30 overs, I thought it was brilliant,” Ravi Shastri told Kevin Pietersen at the end of the game.

Speaking about his captaincy, Rohit said that he had been observing MS Dhoni and tried to pick up little things from him. “Look, we always learn from (MS) Dhoni because he has been such a good captain. Whenever we encountered a problem or a question on the field, he was always there with an answer. What I have observed him captaining the team over the years is that he never panics, takes a few seconds before taking a decision, thinks about it then decides…so there is that similarity..I think I also have that. I also try to think and then react,” Sharma said.

He further said, “Yes, you are playing 50 overs, there is plenty of time but still it is crucial to take that time. And I think I have learnt that observing him all these years. Have played under him for so many years, have learnt a lot, he is always there with advise when we need it.”

Speaking about all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s return to limited overs game after a gap of 15 months, Rohit said, “I don’t think it was a break, he was out of the team. So when you are out of the team you have that fire inside you, have that burning desire where you want to make a comeback and prove yourself rather than proving anyone else. I think he has proved himself in this tournament that he is much, much better than what he was before. He came in the first game…I clearly remember, he flew the night before and played a game against Bangladesh and got four wickets. And even today if you see, he didn’t bowl his ten overs, his batting, his fielding abilities, are very, very crucial to the team. I think what he did today on the field, that run out, I think that was the turning point. That is something that gave us a way to come back into the game.”

“I think that run out was crucial. And he knows that and also as a team we understand that what sort of a player he is and what he brings to the table. His batting again today, although he made 25 odd runs, was so crucial. I would say it was as good as 50 because in the context of the match, if you see those 26 runs were as good as scoring a 50 or a 60,” Sharma concluded.