Former Cricketer Manoj Tiwary Blasts Decision to Strip Rohit Sharma of ODI Captaincy
Former India batter Manoj Tiwary has launched a strong criticism against the recent decision to remove Rohit Sharma as India's One Day International captain. Tiwary openly suggested that head coach Gautam Gambhir might have played a significant role in influencing this controversial move.
Long-Standing Rivalry Adds Fuel to Criticism
Tiwary, who has maintained a long-standing rivalry with Gambhir throughout their careers, expressed clear dissatisfaction with how the situation unfolded. He firmly believes the selectors and team management showed disrespect toward Rohit Sharma by stripping him of the leadership role without proper justification.
The timing of this decision has raised many eyebrows across the cricketing community. Rohit Sharma retired from T20 Internationals in June 2024 and from Test cricket in May of the previous year. However, he had been performing exceptionally well in ODIs and appeared to be reaching his peak form just ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
Surprise Announcement and Leadership Change
When India announced their squad for the Australia ODIs in October, the cricket world received a shock. The selectors named Shubman Gill as the new captain, completely bypassing Rohit Sharma. This move surprised numerous cricket experts and fans alike.
The surprise was particularly strong because Rohit had just led India to an ICC Champions Trophy victory in his final match as captain. This recent success made the leadership change even more puzzling to observers.
Tiwary Questions Gambhir's Influence Behind the Scenes
Tiwary acknowledged that chief selector Ajit Agarkar possesses a strong personality and can make tough decisions independently. However, he strongly suggested that Gambhir's influence likely played a crucial factor in Rohit's removal from captaincy.
"I don't know what the main cause is," Tiwary told Sports Today. "But knowing Ajit Agarkar, he is a personality. He is a decision maker. He will not take a step back in taking such steps. But whether he was influenced by someone to fire the gun from his shoulder is something we need to look at."
The former cricketer elaborated further on the behind-the-scenes dynamics. "A lot of things happen behind the scenes, which makes 1+1 2. Maybe the decision was made by the chief selector, and he was very upfront about it. Naturally, the coach's inputs must be there. You cannot make the decision on your own. Both are equally responsible for whatever decision was made."
Personal Impact and Lost Interest
Tiwary admitted that Rohit's removal has personally affected his interest in watching ODI matches. This loss of interest persists despite the continued presence of batting superstar Virat Kohli in the team.
According to Tiwary's observations, Rohit no longer appears as animated or commanding on the field since losing the captaincy. He also pointed to inconsistencies in team selection as contributing factors to his diminished enthusiasm.
"See, there has been a lot of inconsistency in picking the playing XI, in my opinion," Tiwary stated. "If I have to be brutally honest with you, I have lost interest in watching the ODI games. The things that have panned out of late, when the T20 World Cup-winning captain and the Champions Trophy-winning captain is removed from the captaincy, and the responsibility is given to the new guy, which I felt was not required."
Questioning the Logic Behind the Decision
Tiwary questioned the fundamental reasoning behind removing a captain with Rohit's proven track record. He emphasized that Rohit's leadership credentials and accomplishments should have warranted much greater respect from the decision-makers.
"I have played with Rohit. We have a connection, so I didn't like how it panned out," Tiwary explained. "I felt it was disrespectful to a cricketer who has given so much to the cricket lovers across the world. From that day, I lost a bit of interest. A lot of controversies, and I feel that is happening because the clarity is not there."
The former player highlighted Rohit's impressive captaincy record. "It would have made this decision more sensible, because Rohit is a proven captain. He has won two ICC trophies. We nearly missed out in 2023. I felt Travis Head was lucky; it was his day. If we had won that, Rohit would have ended up with three trophies."
Doubting a Champion's Abilities
Tiwary expressed particular concern about the apparent doubts regarding Rohit's ability to play until the 2027 World Cup. He found this skepticism completely unjustified given Rohit's remarkable career achievements.
"I just wonder why you had doubts regarding Rohit playing the 2027 World Cup," Tiwary questioned. "That means you doubted his abilities. Why would you do that? When he has scored three double hundreds, there was no question of doubting him. A big player always gets the runs."
He praised Rohit's selfless approach to the game. "The mindset with which he played in 2023, he is such a selfless cricketer, he wanted to make a statement. Doubting his ability was a big mistake, and then removing him from captaincy was a big mistake as well. I thought it shouldn't have happened. It cannot be cricketing logic behind his removal as the captain."
Lingering Questions and Controversy
Tiwary's comments highlight the ongoing controversy surrounding Rohit Sharma's exit from ODI leadership. They raise serious questions about the decision-making process within the Indian cricket setup.
The former player's observations underscore lingering uncertainties about the respective roles of the head coach and selectors in such significant captaincy decisions. This situation continues to generate discussion and debate throughout the cricketing world.
