 "Manoj Tiwary has accused BCCI and Team India management of ‘humiliating’ former India captain Rohit Sharma. Images: PTI/Reuters")
Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary feels the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir have ‘humiliated’ Rohit Sharma by removing him from the ODI captaincy . The former Bengal batter feels Rohit should simply retire from ODI cricket rather than being subjected to such ‘disrespect’ after winning two ICC trophies as captain and leading India to the 2023 World Cup final.
The BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar has named Shubman Gill as the new ODI captain ahead of the Australia tour in place of Rohit with an eye on the 2027 World Cup. Rohit will be 40 when the World Cup starts and his retirement from T20I and Tests has also weakened his case.
‘Rohit disrespected by selectors’: Tiwary
However, not everyone agrees with Agarkar’s decision, as Rohit’s former teammate Tiwary said that Rohit doesn’t seem to feature in the plans of the management and must retire to avoid any humiliation.
“I don’t think he (Rohit) is really in their plans anymore. Everything now depends on his performance. If I were Rohit Sharma, I would have considered retirement after this,” Tiwary told CricTracker.
“A player like him doesn’t deserve this kind of humiliation.”
Tiwary added that Rohit’s brilliant track record as India’s ODI captain and the victory in ICC tournaments should have given him an extended run.
“He didn’t just win one ICC trophy - he won two. He came so close in the ODI World Cup as well, performing brilliantly both as a captain and as a player. And let’s not forget - he has five IPL trophies to his name. After all of that, to be treated this way is just not right. Personally, I don’t think he should continue after being disrespected like this.
“If you ask me, before they push him out, it would be better if he himself steps away - at least that way, he can leave with his dignity intact,” Tiwary added.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsMeanwhile, Rohit, in an event on Tuesday, took a subtle dig at coach Gambhir as he credited former coach Rahul Dravid for the Champions Trophy 2025 victory, which came under the former Delhi cricketer’s tenure.