India may have lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy decider by six wickets, but discussions continue to swirl around captain Rohit Sharma’s decision to “stand down” from the pivotal Sydney Test. Former India batter Manoj Tiwary has expressed that Rohit should have led the team in such a crucial match.
He added that Rohit’s decision to skip the Border-Gavaskar Trophy decider was entirely his own, as head coach Gautam Gambhir would not have the authority to drop either him or Virat Kohli.
Rohit Sharma, 37, scored just 31 runs in three Tests against Australia. His absence from the playing XI sparked speculation about whether the team management had dropped the Indian captain.
However, on Day 2 of the Sydney Test, Rohit clarified that the decision not to play was his own, citing the team’s need to avoid fielding too many out-of-form batters. Throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which India lost 1-3, questions were repeatedly raised about the form of both Rohit and Virat Kohli.
“I believe Rohit Sharma made the decision himself. I don’t think Gautam Gambhir would have been in a position to drop either Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma. It was likely Rohit’s own call,” said Manoj Tiwary. “As the captain, Rohit should have played in Sydney. He mentioned he wasn’t scoring runs, and while that may be true, others weren’t performing either. Sometimes, players get into a mindset where they feel they should step aside instead of someone else, doubting their own abilities while placing others above them,” Tiwary explained.
“A captain should never do this,” he said. “Rohit Sharma is a tremendous talent and has already proven himself. Every player, whether batter or bowler, goes through rough patches—even coaches do. These phases can be overcome, and you can bounce back to score runs. Personally, I feel he shouldn’t have dropped himself. While it seems he did it for the team’s sake, as a captain, you cannot step aside when the Test series is on the line,” he added.
Why Not Jalaj Saxena?
Manoj Tiwary questioned the selection of Tanush Kotian in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad following Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement. He argued that Jalaj Saxena, a proven performer in first-class cricket, deserved the opportunity to represent India in the series.
The 38-year-old Saxena, who plays for Kerala, has an impressive record in first-class cricket, with 145 matches, 464 wickets, and 6,834 runs to his name. Making a case for the experienced off-break bowler, Tiwary pointed out India’s struggles in ICC events over the past 10-12 years.
“Tanush Kotian was selected, but I felt Jalaj Saxena would have been the better choice. He deserved that opportunity. The BCCI should have acknowledged a player of his caliber, given his outstanding performances. Why wasn’t he considered when Ashwin retired? How did Tanush Kotian suddenly enter the mix? These decisions are quite questionable,” Tiwary said.
“Sometimes, certain players get a push, while deserving candidates without strong backing or influential support are overlooked,” Tiwary remarked. “That’s not to say the BCCI isn’t doing anything—I commend them for their contributions to Indian cricket. However, we keep falling short in every ICC tournament. Why can’t we achieve the same level of success as Australia when it comes to winning ICC events?” he questioned.
He continued, “Why are we celebrating a single ICC tournament win as if it’s a rare occurrence, acting like another victory is far off? We should believe that it’s possible to dominate and win all ICC tournaments. With the facilities and player security in place, where are the consistent performances? The results are lacking due to certain factors I’ve observed and experienced. If these issues are addressed, I’m confident India can win many ICC tournaments in the future.”
