Indian pacer Khaleel Ahmed has expressed immense respect and affection for ODI captain Rohit Sharma. Khaleel recalled a thoughtful gesture by Rohit during a challenging match in 2019, highlighting the captain’s supportive nature.
Currently, Rohit Sharma has retired from T20I and Test cricket and is solely active in ODIs for India. He ended his T20I career following India’s ICC T20 World Cup triumph in 2024 and announced his Test retirement in May 2025.
Under Rohit’s leadership, India secured its first ICC title in 11 years by winning the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup. Earlier this year, he also guided the team to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
“Rohit Bhai came to me in the dressing room and spoke to me” – Khaleel Ahmed
In a recent interview with RevSportz, Khaleel Ahmed recalled a memorable moment of encouragement from Rohit Sharma after a match in 2019. The pacer shared how Rohit motivated him despite a disappointing performance.
“I didn’t have a great day and managed to take only one wicket. Rohit Bhai came to me in the dressing room and spoke to me one-on-one. The team was leaving the stadium, but he stayed back to talk,” Khaleel Ahmed said.
“He told me I’m unaware of my own capabilities. As we were exiting, fans were chanting his name, and he said, ‘All of this should happen for you too. You should wish this for yourself and stay positive,’” he added.
Khaleel Ahmed also mentioned that Rohit has offered similar encouragement to Rishabh Pant, and expressed his deep respect and admiration for the India captain.
“Having a captain like him talk to me like that after a match made me realize how kind he is. I’ve seen him do the same with Rishabh. People usually avoid you when you’ve had a poor game, but he’s different,” Khaleel Ahmedsaid.
“Recently, I met him at the NCA during the Duleep Trophy. He looked very fit, so I told him to keep it up and keep playing. I have hardly seen such a captain and person in my life. He’s a gem, and I have a lot of respect and love for him,” he added.
Meanwhile, Khaleel Ahmed is currently representing Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2025-26. He last appeared for India in a T20I series against Sri Lanka last year.
